Canada’s aspirations for a Wimbledon women’s singles title have come to an abrupt halt even before the tournament kicks off.
Victoria Mboko, ranked ninth, announced on Instagram that she will miss the third Grand Slam of the season, along with the entire grass-court segment, due to an MCL injury in her left knee.
“I’m receiving top-notch medical care, and my team and I are dedicated to getting back on the court as soon as possible,” Mboko expressed. “A heartfelt thanks to everyone who has reached out with words of encouragement; your support means the world to me!”
The injury occurred during her match at Queen’s Club on Wednesday after she took a misstep while playing against Karolina Pliskova.
The 19-year-old from Burlington, Ontario, managed to get back on her feet, but shared with a physiotherapist that her knee felt “unstable at the moment.”
This was Mboko’s inaugural singles match on grass this season. The injury also ruled her out of the women’s doubles event at Queen’s Club, where she was set to compete alongside the legendary Serena Williams.
Last year, Mboko made a splash in her Wimbledon debut by reaching the second round. This season, she secured at least two wins at each of the first two Grand Slam tournaments, achieving a personal-best fourth-round finish at the Australian Open.
She is slated to defend her title at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto this August.
–with files from The Canadian Press
