SouthernWorldwide.com – The highly anticipated return of the Williams sisters to competitive tennis as a doubles team has been cut short before it could even begin.
In their first Grand Slam doubles appearance together in almost four years, Serena and Venus Williams were compelled to withdraw from the Wimbledon doubles competition. This decision was necessitated by a knee injury sustained by the younger sister, Serena.
Serena had suffered the injury earlier in the week during her singles comeback match, which ultimately ended in a three-set defeat.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Serena expressed her deep disappointment. “I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside @venuswilliams once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete,” she shared.
The Instagram post featured images of four syringes, which Serena explained contained fluid drained from her knee after her singles match. A video accompanying the post showed her walking with her right leg heavily strapped and what appeared to be one of her daughters offering her a cane for support.
Despite this setback, Serena hinted at a potential return to competition soon, with the U.S. Open on the horizon. “All I can say,” she stated, “is stay tuned to a city near you.”
The Williams sisters, Venus being 46 years old, were slated to face Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in their opening doubles match. This particular first-round doubles fixture had been postponed from earlier in the week, specifically to allow Serena additional time to recover from her injury.
Serena’s singles comeback on Tuesday saw her fall 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 to the 20-year-old Australian player, Maya Joint. This marked her return to major competition after a significant absence.
As a formidable doubles pairing, the Williams sisters have achieved considerable success at Wimbledon, clinching the women’s doubles title a remarkable six times. Their partnership at Wimbledon this year was their first since their championship win in 2016. It also marked their first time teaming up since the 2022 U.S. Open, where they were eliminated in the first round.
Collectively, Serena and Venus have amassed an impressive 14 Grand Slam titles as a doubles team. Furthermore, they have secured three Olympic gold medals together, and notably, they have never lost a doubles final when competing as partners.
