Mboko’s doubles partnership with Williams in doubt after injury
· Yahoo Sports
The future of Victoria Mboko’s doubles partnership with Serena Williams was plunged into doubt after the Canadian was forced to retire in her opening singles match at the HSBC Championships in London.
Tennis great Williams, 44, made her hotly-anticipated comeback to tennis on Tuesday, securing a win alongside Mboko in their first doubles match.
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The duo beat Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, and are scheduled to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund on Thursday evening at the Queen’s club.
Mboko, who received a bye into the round of 16, was down a set but leading Karolina Pliskova 4-3 in the second when she slipped behind the baseline trying to return a shot, effectively forcing her into the splits, evoking a gasp from the crowd.
She was visibly upset as she spoke to the attending staff and was initially able to get up and bear weight, though the official reason later given for her retirement from the singles match was a left knee injury.
The 19-year-old Canadian was heard on camera saying “there is no stability right now.”
Mboko was able to walk over to the bench independently, burying her face behind a towel as she continued to consult her team, before the umpire eventually announced she would be retiring from the match, to an encouraging reception from the crowd.
“It’s such a shame,” said Pliskova. “I think we played quite a good game today and I think she was improving as the match was going, so it would have been a nice match, so I wish her only the best.
“Of course, this is not the way we want to win. Hopefully she is going to be fine for Wimbledon.”
Wimbledon chatter continues to circle around Williams, who hit a top speed of 120mph on her serve in Tuesday’s win, her first competitive tennis match since stepping away nearly four years ago.
The mother of two – who has also committed to next week’s Berlin Tennis Open and is yet to name her partner for that event – insisted she was taking her comeback “a day at a time.”
When it came to Wimbledon, Williams added: “They have been great about giving me that space and time to decide.”
On Sunday, she suggested a return to singles would not be imminent, saying: “I can’t say yes, I can’t say no.”
“Right now, no, I feel like I probably need to train a little bit more if I want to play singles and we’ll see if I get there, and if not, that’s not my journey right now.”
Not everyone is convinced. On Wednesday, after beating Alexandra Eala 6-2 6-2 to book her place in the quarter-finals, Williams’ compatriot Iva Jovic said: “Looks like she’s feeling sharp.
“I think she will be back on the singles court very soon, as well. It’s exciting. She’s looking really good. I think it’s going to be some good results for her.”
Sixth-seed Jovic will face Amanda Anisimova in the last eight after her fellow American beat Siegemund 6-1 6-3.