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Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Wimbledon doubles tournament because of a knee injury, bringing her much-anticipated return to the Grand Slam to an early end.
The 44-year-old and her sister, Venus Williams, had been scheduled to play their opening doubles match on Saturday after receiving a wildcard entry into the tournament.
However, Serena announced just hours before the match that her knee had not recovered sufficiently from the injury she sustained during her first-round singles defeat to Maya Joint on Tuesday.
In a post on Instagram, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion said she was heartbroken to withdraw, explaining that although she had done everything possible to be ready, her knee was not fit enough to compete.
“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles,” she said.
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She added that returning to competition had been a special experience and that the chance to play alongside her sister again meant a great deal to her.
Serena also revealed that fluid had been drained from her injured knee following her singles match, sharing a photo of the medical procedure.
“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 photo of the syringes shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match…yikes!”
The defeat to Joint had marked Serena’s first singles appearance since the 2022 US Open, ending a four-year retirement from professional tennis.
The Williams sisters, who have won the Wimbledon doubles title six times, had been due to face Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio in the opening round.
