Serena Williams has withdrawn from her Wimbledon doubles match with Venus on Saturday because of a right knee injury. The 44-year-old said her knee was still not ready after being hurt earlier in the week during a singles return, and she hinted she could play
Wimbledon was ready for Serena Williams and Venus Williams to share the doubles court again. On Saturday, that moment slipped away as Serena withdrew from their scheduled match because of a right knee injury.
The 44-year-old said she injured the knee during her singles return earlier in the week, in a three-set loss. Her doubles exit comes just days after she tried to come back and compete through the pain.
“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside [Venus Williams] once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete,” Serena wrote in an Instagram post.
In that post, Serena included images of four syringes that she said “shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match.” A video accompanying the pictures showed her walking with strapping on her right leg, with what appeared to be one of her daughters holding a cane for her.
Even with the setback, Serena pointed toward a future return as the U.S. Open approaches. “All I can say,” she said, “is stay tuned to a city near you.”
Serena and Venus were due to face Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in what had been the only first-round doubles match not scheduled earlier in the week. The start time had been pushed back to give Serena more time to recover.
Her singles match ended in disappointment: Serena was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia on Tuesday.
Venus did compete on Friday in mixed doubles, partnering Kevin Krawietz. Together, they lost in straight sets to Tereza Mihalikova and Lloyd Glasspool.
The Williams sisters enter this Wimbledon with a long history in doubles success at the All England Club. They have won the women’s doubles title together six times.
Now, with Serena sidelined for Saturday’s match, that record will have to wait for another chance as her recovery continues—under the pressure of the U.S. Open looming next.
Serena Williams Venus Williams Wimbledon doubles right knee injury Maya Joint Camila Osorio Solana Sierra Kevin Krawietz Tereza Mihalikova Lloyd Glasspool U.S. Open