Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Wimbledon doubles draw with sister Venus after saying her knee is not ready to compete. The decision ends the pair’s latest attempt to add another chapter to one of the most successful partnerships in tennis.
In an Instagram post, Williams wrote, “I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles,” and said that returning to compete again “has been a gift.” She added that playing alongside Venus “once more meant the world to me.”
Williams also shared a video of herself walking with a heavily bandaged right knee, along with images of syringes that had collected fluid from the joint and pictures of treatment. The post came just moments before a scheduled practice session ahead of the match.
A return cut short by injury
The 44-year-old had returned to competition last month and received a wild card for both singles and doubles at the grass-court major. She played her first singles match in nearly four years on Centre Court against Maya Joint, then lost a marathon three-set match 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3.
After that loss, Williams said, “It was really great to be back at Wimbledon,” adding that she never expected to be there and that she relished the atmosphere and the moment.
Her agent, Jill Smoller, later said Williams had “tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set” in that match and was trying to be ready for the doubles match later in the week. The tournament had already given the sisters an extra day to prepare after the injury.
What changes for Wimbledon
All other first-round matches in the women’s doubles draw had already finished by Friday, while the Williams sisters were scheduled to play Saturday against Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra. With Serena out, Samantha Murray Sharan and Lanlana Tararudee will replace the sisters in the draw.
The Williams sisters remain 14-time doubles champions and have won six Wimbledon titles together. Venus, 46, also played in the mixed doubles draw with Kevin Krawietz, but they lost their opening-round match 6-4, 6-4 to Lloyd Glasspool and Tereza Mihalikova.
In her post, Serena thanked Wimbledon for its support and thanked the fans as well. She did not announce her next appearance, but signaled that another return is likely coming soon with a final note to followers: “All I can say is stay tuned to a city near you.”
