A return ends earlier than expected
Serena Williams’ return to competitive tennis lasted just one match at Queen’s Club after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, was forced to withdraw with a left knee injury.
According to Charlie Malam’s report for the Express, Williams had made her first appearance in 1,375 days alongside the 19-year-old Canadian, winning their opening doubles match in straight sets.
But the comeback was halted before the pair could return for the second round. Mboko suffered the injury during her singles match against Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday, retiring after a heavy fall on the grass.
Queen’s later confirmed that Mboko had withdrawn from the doubles draw because of the injury. Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund advanced by walkover and moved straight into the semi-finals.
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Berlin is next on the schedule
The setback does not appear to have ended Williams’ grass-court plans. The 44-year-old has already added the Berlin Tennis Open to her schedule, with the tournament beginning on June 15.
Williams said every event she adds to her calendar now feels meaningful, and described Berlin as another important step in building momentum during the grass-court season.
Karolina Muchova, the 2023 French Open runner-up, has been mentioned as a possible doubles partner for Williams in Germany, though no formal confirmation has been made.
Her Wimbledon plans are still uncertain. Williams has not yet committed to playing at the All England Club, saying she is taking the decision day by day.
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Gauff link adds to Wimbledon intrigue
There has also been speculation over a possible Wimbledon partnership with Coco Gauff.
Gauff, one of the leading American players of the younger generation, has often spoken about Williams’ influence on her career. She has also built a strong doubles record, including a French Open doubles title in 2024, as well as deep runs at the Australian Open and US Open.
Speaking to ESPN in 2023, Gauff said Williams was her idol and called her “the GOAT”. She added that one of her career regrets was never having the chance to face Williams on court.
A partnership between the two would attract huge attention at Wimbledon, but for now it remains only a possibility.
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Questions remain over the comeback
Williams’ last tournament before Queen’s was the 2022 US Open, where she appeared to bring her career to a close after more than two decades at the top of the sport.
Her return has therefore been one of the biggest stories of the grass-court season, even if the first chapter ended sooner than expected.
The win at Queen’s showed that Williams could still compete, but Mboko’s injury means the tennis world must wait a little longer to see how far this comeback can go.
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