Serena Williams (USA) serves in opposition to Maya Joint (AUS) (not pictured) on day two of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Garden Tennis and Croquet Membership on June 30, 2026. — ReutersÂ
LONDON: Serena Williams’ Wimbledon comeback is over after the American legend pulled out of the doubles attributable to a knee damage on Saturday.
Williams and her sister Venus have been attributable to play within the first spherical on Saturday, however Serena introduced simply hours earlier than the match that her knee had not healed sufficient to play.
“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles,” the 44-year-old mentioned on Instagram.
Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, suffered the damage throughout her defeat in opposition to Australia’s Maya Joint within the first spherical of the Wimbledon singles on Tuesday.
That was her first singles match for the reason that 2022 US Open after 4 years in retirement.
The sisters, who received the Wimbledon doubles six instances, have been scheduled to face Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio after being given a wild card entry into the occasion.
However no courtroom was specified by event organisers within the order of play, elevating the likelihood that seven-time Wimbledon singles winner Serena might withdraw.
To the frustration of her legion of followers, Serena did simply that, revealing the fluid on her injured knee made it unimaginable to proceed her sensational return to Wimbledon.
“Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside Venus once more meant the world to me,” she mentioned.
“I did everything I could to be ready, but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete.
“The photograph of the syringes reveals the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match…yikes!”
Serena made an astonishing return to tennis at Queen’s Club last month, where she played in the doubles with Canadian Victoria Mboko.
But an injury to Mboko curtailed Williams’ run in the Wimbledon warm-up event after the pair won their first match.
‘Stay tuned’Â
Serena then crashed out in the first round of the Berlin doubles with Karolina Muchova before accepting Wimbledon’s offer of a wild card into the singles last week.
Serena had been motivated by a desire to play in front of her two young daughters Olympia and Adira, but they saw their mother feature in just one match at Wimbledon.
Serena competed gamely in her three-set defeat against Joint — a player 24 years younger than the American — on a packed Centre Court.
She did not fulfil her scheduled post-match press conference and her agent later said that was due to the knee injury, setting off speculation she would have to quit the doubles.
Williams posted footage of her limping in a heavy bandage, as well as some syringes full of fluid, as she confirmed her withdrawal.
“I am particularly grateful to event director, Jamie Baker, and all the event group for giving me each alternative to play right here.”
Now questions will be asked about her ability to recover in time for the US Open later this year, while it is far from certain how much longer Serena’s comeback tour will last.
Hinting she is not finished yet, Williams said: “Thanks to the followers to your unimaginable assist and for making this comeback so significant. All I can say is keep tuned to a metropolis close to you…”
