Serena Williams withdrew from her Wimbledon doubles match alongside sister Venus on Saturday, citing a right knee injury that has sidelined her from further competition at the All England Club. The 44-year-old tennis legend sustained the injury during her singles return earlier in the week, where she suffered a three-set loss to Australia's Maya Joint.
Heartbreaking Decision Announced on Instagram
In an emotional Instagram post, Serena expressed her disappointment: “I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside @venuswilliams once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete.” The post included images of four syringes, which Serena said “shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match.” A video accompanying the post showed her walking with strapping up and down her right leg, and what appeared to be one of her daughters holding a cane for her.
Singles Loss and Doubles Schedule
Serena was defeated 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia on Tuesday. The Williams sisters—Venus is 46—were scheduled to play Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in the only first-round doubles match that hadn’t been scheduled earlier in the week. It was pushed back to give Serena more time to recover, but ultimately her knee did not allow her to compete.
Venus Williams' Mixed Doubles Participation
Venus played in the mixed doubles tournament on Friday alongside Kevin Krawietz, but the pair lost in straight sets to Tereza Mihalikova and Lloyd Glasspool. The Williams sisters are six-time champions as partners in women’s doubles at Wimbledon, making their withdrawal particularly poignant.
Serena Hints at US Open Return
Despite the setback, Serena indicated she may return to competition soon. In her Instagram post, she added: “All I can say is stay tuned to a city near you.” This suggests she could be preparing for the US Open, which is approaching. The knee injury, however, remains a concern as she aims to compete at the highest level again.
Impact on Wimbledon Doubles Draw
The withdrawal of the Williams sisters leaves their scheduled opponents, Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra, without a match. The tournament organizers had rearranged the schedule to accommodate Serena’s recovery, but the injury ultimately forced her to pull out. The Williams sisters have a storied history at Wimbledon, with six women’s doubles titles together, and their absence is a significant loss for the tournament.
