Serena Williams withdraws from Wimbledon doubles with knee injury
text_fields
Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Wimbledon doubles event because of a knee injury, bringing her comeback at the Grand Slam to an early end.
Williams and her sister Venus were scheduled to play their first-round doubles match on Saturday after receiving a wild card entry, but Serena announced her withdrawal just hours before the contest.
"I'm heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles," the 44-year-old said on Instagram.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion sustained the injury during her first-round singles defeat to Australia's Maya Joint on Tuesday. The match marked her first singles appearance since the 2022 US Open following a four-year retirement.
Serena said fluid in her injured knee made it impossible to compete and shared images showing the swelling and treatment she received.
"Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside Venus once more meant the world to me," she said. "I did everything I could to be ready, but unfortunately, my knee just isn't ready to compete."
The Williams sisters, six-time Wimbledon doubles champions, had been due to face Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio.
Serena returned to competitive tennis last month at Queen's Club in the doubles alongside Victoria Mboko before playing another doubles event in Berlin. She later accepted a Wimbledon singles wild card, saying she wanted to compete in front of her daughters, Olympia and Adira.
The withdrawal raises uncertainty over her fitness ahead of the US Open later this year. However, Serena suggested her comeback is not over.
"Thank you to the fans for your incredible support and for making this comeback so meaningful. All I can say is stay tuned to a city near you," she said.