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Serena Williams has withdrawn from her Wimbledon doubles campaign alongside her sister Venus, citing a knee injury she sustained during her opening-round singles defeat earlier in the tournament. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion announced her withdrawal on social media shortly before the sisters were due to play their first-round doubles match on Saturday.
Coverage comparison
Reports from ABC Australia, BBC — World, and Dawn all confirm that Williams pulled out of the doubles event due to a knee injury that occurred during her singles defeat by Australia's Maya Joint. ABC Australia and Dawn noted that Williams posted images of fluid drained from her knee on Instagram, along with a video showing her walking with a strapped right leg and one of her daughters holding a cane for her. The BBC — World added that Wimbledon organisers said Williams was "not able to undertake" her media duties following the singles match, as she did not speak to reporters.
Dawn and ABC Australia both quoted Williams hinting at a potential return to tennis, with her saying "stay tuned to a city near you." The BBC — World reported that Williams and Venus, who are six-time doubles champions at Wimbledon, were scheduled to reunite on a Grand Slam court for the first time since 2022, but Williams was not fit enough to play.
Key claims
Serena Williams pulled out of the Wimbledon doubles because of a knee injury. The injury occurred during her singles defeat by Maya Joint in the first round on Tuesday. Williams, who is a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, said on Instagram: "I'm heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift." She added: "I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee just isn't ready to compete." Her post included images of syringes, which she said showed "the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match."
Williams and her sister Venus are six-time doubles champions at Wimbledon, having won the title six times between 2000 and 2016. They were given a wildcard into the doubles draw and were scheduled to face Colombia's Camila Osorio and Argentina's Solana Sierra. According to ABC Australia, hopes of Williams playing in Saturday's doubles had appeared to improve after the match was added to the order of play, though no court was initially specified, which was seen as potentially giving Williams more rest time.
Maya Joint, who defeated Williams in three sets (6-3, 6-7(6/8), 6-3), described the experience of playing her as "intimidating" and "amazing." Joint, who had lost in the first round of Wimbledon singles in the previous year, told reporters that walking onto Centre Court was "the craziest moment of my life."
Dawn reported that Williams made her return to tennis at Queen's Club last month, playing doubles with Canadian Victoria Mboko, but that run was curtailed by an injury to Mboko. Williams then lost in the first round of the Berlin doubles with Karolina Muchova before accepting a wildcard into the Wimbledon singles. Williams, who is 44, had said she was motivated by a desire to play in front of her two young daughters.