Young British tennis star Victoria Mboko has suffered a devastating blow to her Wimbledon hopes after being ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury. The injury, which occurred during a singles match at Queen's Club against Karolina Pliskova, has left Mboko unable to continue playing doubles with tennis legend Serena Williams.
Mboko, who was due to partner Williams in the doubles at Wimbledon, was forced to retire from her singles match against Pliskova after slipping in the second set. The 2025 WTA Newcomer of the Year was visibly upset following the injury, which effectively forced her into the splits, and could be overheard telling physios that there was 'no stability' in her knee.
Williams, who made a shock return to tennis at Queen's Club, has paid tribute to Mboko on social media, saying she is an 'incredible talent' and wishing her a speedy recovery. The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion has not ruled out competing at Wimbledon herself, where she won seven singles titles and six doubles titles alongside her sister, Venus.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has confirmed that Mboko's name has been removed from the entry list, with Darja Vidmanova taking her place in the main draw. The wildcard committee will formally make their decisions next week, but it is clear that Mboko's injury has dealt a significant blow to her hopes of competing at Wimbledon.