Tennis legend Serena Williams has seen her return to competitive tennis at the Queen’s Club Championships come to an abrupt end after doubles partner Victoria Mboko withdrew from the tournament due to a knee injury.

Tournament organisers confirmed that the Williams-Mboko pairing has pulled out of the doubles event before their scheduled second-round match, bringing an early conclusion to what had been an encouraging comeback for the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

Mboko sustained the injury during her singles clash against Karolina Pliskova, retiring from the match while visibly distressed. The setback has also raised concerns about her availability for upcoming grass-court tournaments, including Wimbledon.

Before the withdrawal, Williams and Mboko had impressed in their opening match, defeating third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in straight sets. The victory marked Williams’ first competitive win since stepping away from the sport following the 2022 US Open.

The pair had been scheduled to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarter-finals, but the match will no longer take place due to Mboko’s injury.

Despite the disappointment, Williams’ comeback plans remain on track. The former world number one is expected to continue her return at the Berlin Tennis Open, which begins on June 15, with details of her new doubles partner yet to be announced.

Williams expressed excitement about continuing her grass-court season, describing every tournament on her comeback schedule as special and saying she looks forward to competing before fans in Germany as she builds momentum ahead of future events.