Victoria Mboko has expressed her delight at the prospect of teaming up with 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the doubles draw at next week’s Queen’s Club Championships. The Canadian teenager, ranked 112th in the world in singles, will join forces with the American icon on the grass courts of west London in what promises to be one of the most talked-about pairings of the tournament.
Mboko, 19, said: ‘It’s an absolute dream come true. I grew up watching Serena and learning from her. To share a court with her is incredible, and I’m going to soak up every moment. I know I’ll learn so much just by being alongside her.’ The young right-hander has enjoyed a breakthrough season, reaching the second round of the Australian Open and climbing into the top 120 for the first time.
Serena Williams, who turns 43 in September, has played only a handful of competitive matches in the past two years, but remains a formidable presence on grass, where she has won seven Wimbledon singles titles. The Queen’s Club event, which runs from 16–22 June, will serve as her final warm-up before the All England Club championships begin on 1 July. Williams commented: ‘Victoria has a bright future. I’m looking forward to playing with her – she’s got great energy and a big game.’
The doubles draw at Queen’s Club features several strong pairings, including British number one Katie Boulter and her partner Heather Watson. Mboko and Williams are unseeded but will pose a significant threat given Williams’s doubles pedigree – she has won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, all with her sister Venus. The tournament organisers confirmed the pairing earlier this week, sparking a surge in ticket sales for the early rounds.
For UK tennis fans, the partnership offers a rare chance to see Williams compete on British grass outside of Wimbledon, and provides a glimpse of Mboko, who is tipped as a future top-50 player. The pair’s first match is expected to take place on Tuesday, with the full draw scheduled for Sunday evening. Source: Queen's Club Championships media release.