Serena Williams withdraws from Wimbledon doubles with Venus after knee injury
Serena Williams announced her withdrawal from the Wimbledon doubles with sister Venus on Saturday, citing a right knee injury sustained during her singles return earlier in the week.
Singles comeback cut short
Serena Williams returned to Grand Slam tennis after four years away, receiving a wildcard for the singles draw. On Tuesday she faced Australian Maya Joint, losing 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3. Williams tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set but completed the match. She skipped the post-match press conference, later confirming the injury on social media. Before Wimbledon, she partnered Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko at Queen's Club and Czech Karolina Muchova in Berlin, but both campaigns ended early.
Injury and recovery attempt
Williams posted a video on Instagram showing her limping with strapping on her right leg, alongside images of four syringes filled with fluid drained from the knee. "The photo of the syringes is the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match - yikes!" she wrote. The good news, she said, was that the knee should not swell or accumulate fluid again. But despite intensive treatment, she was unable to get it ready for doubles.
I'm heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside Venus once more meant the world to me.
Doubles withdrawal
The Williams sisters, six-time Wimbledon doubles champions and 14-time Grand Slam winners together, had been granted a wildcard and were scheduled to face Solana Sierra of Argentina and Camila Osorio of Colombia in the first round on Saturday. Tournament organisers gave Serena as much time as possible, delaying the match while all other first-round doubles were completed on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday morning, Serena confirmed she could not play. The pair will be replaced by Britain's Samantha Murray Sharan and Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee.
- Serena loses singles to Maya Joint, tweaks right knee
- Announces knee injury, skips press conference
- Withdraws from doubles, posts Instagram video
- Replacement pair Murray Sharan/Tararudee announced
What's next
Serena thanked tournament director Jamie Baker and the Wimbledon team for "giving me every opportunity to recover." She hinted at future appearances, telling fans to "stay tuned to a city near you." Venus, who lost in mixed doubles on Friday, is set to play WTA 500 Washington and WTA 1000 Toronto as a wildcard. Serena has not disclosed her next tournament.
