NBO in Focus: Mboko Withdraws from Wimbledon

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Welcome to NBO in Focus. Every week, we will keep you updated on all the action on the WTA Tour as we build towards the National Bank Open in Toronto, which takes place from Aug. 1 to Aug. 13.

Days until National Bank Open: 46

Knee Injury Forces Mboko Out of Wimbledon

Victoria Mboko’s grass season has come to an early end after the world No. 9 announced that was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a knee injury.

“Unfortunately, my fall on Wednesday caused an injury to the MCL on my left knee, which sadly means I will miss the remainder of the grass season. This unfortunately means Wimbledon too,” Mboko wrote on Instagram. “I am receiving the best medical care, and my team and I are focused on a return to court as soon as possible.”

The 19-year-old from Burlington sustained the injury in her opening match at Queen’s Club following a slip that forced her to retire in the second set against Karolina Pliskova. The Canadian also had to end her partnership with Serena Williams early after the duo won their first-round match.

“Thank you [Williams] for giving me this incredible opportunity to play alongside you,” Mboko also wrote on Instagram. “I learnt so much from you and am so sorry our tournament came to an end prematurely, but I hope we can play together again soon and finish what we started.”

Mboko made her Wimbledon debut as a lucky loser last year, winning her opening match in straight sets before losing out in round two.

Lucky Loser Vekic Crowned Queen’s Club Champion

Maja Chwalinska’s Cinderella run at Roland-Garros must’ve inspired the rest of the tour.

Donna Vekic only gained a place in the Queen’s Club main draw as a lucky loser, and she made the most of her second chance. The Croatian conceded just one set throughout the main draw, capping off the event with convincing wins over two crowd favourites – 6-1, 6-3 against Katie Boulter in the semis then 6-0, 7-6(6) against Emma Raducanu for her first-career WTA 500 title. Vekic also became the seventh lucky loser in the Open Era to hoist a WTA trophy.

The former Wimbledon semifinalist was back to her best on the lawn after failing to make it past the second round in her four grass-court events in 2025. Once ranked a career-high No. 17 last year, Vekic dropped to No. 115 ahead of the clay season but is now back in the Top 35, heavily thanks to her Queen’s Club triumph.

Montgomery’s Surprise Title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch

How about a lucky loser and a qualifier winning a WTA title in the same week? That’s the start the grass season is off to as American qualifier Robin Montgomery secured the ‘s-Hertogenbosch title in just her third tour-level main draw of the year.

Montgomery dropped the first set in her opening match against world No. 66 Daria Kasatkina, but that was the only set she conceded the rest of the way as she earned the comeback win before cruising to the final, getting her hands on the trophy via a Barbora Krejcikova walkover in the title match.

The American was ranked No. 484 at the time of her Libema Open title run, becoming the lowest-ranked WTA singles champion since Elina Svitolina (No. 508) in 2023. Montgomery is now up to No. 194 in the WTA rankings, up 290 spots.

All winners from last week:

WTA 500 Queen’s Club

Women’s Singles: Donna Vekic (1/5)* d. Emma Raducanu
Women’s Doubles: Tereza Mihalikova/Olivia Nicholls d. Leylah Annie Fernandez/Laura Siegemund

WTA 250 ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Women’s Singles: Robin Montgomery (1/1)* d. Barbora Krejcikova
Women’s Doubles: Shuko Aoyama/En-Shuo Liang d. Ingrid Neel/Giuliana Olmos

*(2026 titles/career titles)

The WTA's best return to Toronto next summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers Aug 1 to 13 at Sobeys Stadium. Get your tickets today!

Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak