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Serena Williams withdraws from Wimbledon doubles with knee injury

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The Williams sisters’ return to competitive tennis as a duo was over before it even began.

In their first Grand Slam doubles event together in nearly four years, 44-year-old Serena and Venus were forced to withdraw from the Wimbledon doubles event after younger Serena suffered a knee injury.

Serena was injured during her singles return earlier in the week, suffering a three-set defeat.

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Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States during their Women’s Doubles match against Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2022 US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center on September 1, 2022 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

“I am heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again was a gift and the opportunity to play alongside @venuswilliams once again meant the world to me. I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee is not ready to compete.” Serena said in her Instagram post:.

The post included images of four syringes that Serena said “showed the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match.” An accompanying video showed her walking with her right leg crossed up and down, and one of her daughters holding a cane for her.

However, with the US Open approaching, Serena has stated that she may play again somewhere else soon.

“All I can say,” Serena said, “is to keep an eye on a city near you.”

Serena Williams, left, meets her sister Venus Williams after their match in the third round of the US Open tennis tournament on August 31, 2018 in Flushing, New York.

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The Williams sisters (Venus is 46) were planned to play Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra. This was the only first-round doubles match not scheduled earlier in the week, postponed to give Serena more time to recover.

In her big comeback, Serena lost to 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint on Tuesday, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3.

The Williams sisters are joint Wimbledon women’s doubles champions six times. This was their first time teaming up at Wimbledon since winning in 2016. It was also their first time teaming up since the 2022 US Open, where they lost in the first round.