Victoria Mboko's participation in her high-profile doubles run with Serena Williams hangs in the balance after a grueling fall forced the Canadian out of her singles match at Queen's Club in London.
The 19-year-old went down hard behind the baseline during her opening round against Karolina Pliskova, sliding into an awkward split as she reached for a return. The injury appeared serious enough that Mboko cited a lack of stability in her left knee when she withdrew from the match.
The incident casts immediate shadow over the pair's scheduled Thursday evening doubles clash against Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund. Williams, 42, had just notched her comeback victory with Mboko on Tuesday, the two combining to defeat Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in straight sets at the HSBC Championships.
Mboko was leading Pliskova 4-3 in the second set when the fall happened. The crowd gasped as her body contorted, and Mboko visibly struggled as she conferred with her team. She managed to walk to the bench under her own power, but the damage was evident as she buried her face in a towel while her coaching staff assessed the injury.
The timing could hardly be worse. Williams' return to competitive tennis after a prolonged absence represented one of the tournament's marquee storylines, and her pairing with Mboko was generating considerable interest. With Mboko having received a bye straight into the round of 16 in singles play, the injury raises questions about whether she'll be fit enough to continue in the doubles draw.
Mboko's withdrawal drew an encouraging reception from spectators, acknowledging both her effort and the disappointment of the moment. The question now is whether she can recover sufficiently to take the court with Williams just 48 hours later.
Author James Rodriguez: "This is exactly the kind of setback that unravels a comeback story before it gains momentum."
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