The anticipated return of Serena and Venus Williams as a doubles team in competitive tennis has met an unfortunate setback. In their first Grand Slam doubles event in almost four years, the sisters had to withdraw from the Wimbledon doubles competition. This decision followed a knee injury sustained by Serena, aged 44, during her earlier singles match.
Serena’s knee injury happened amid her singles comeback in which she lost in three sets. On Instagram, she expressed her disappointment about having to step back from the doubles match. She remarked, “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.” Her post included images illustrating the medical attention her knee received, showing syringes used to drain fluid post her singles match.
Despite these challenges, Serena hinted at potential future appearances, suggesting she might compete again soon by saying, “All I can say is stay tuned to a city near you.”
Before pulling out from the tournament, the Williams sisters, with Venus now 46, were slated to face Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra. Their match was delayed to give Serena more recovery time. Unfortunately, an earlier singles match saw Serena defeated by Australian player Maya Joint, with scores of 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3.
Historically, the Williams sisters have been a formidable team. They are six-time Wimbledon champions in women’s doubles, last collaborating at this event in 2016. Their most recent team-up was at the 2022 U.S. Open, where they exited in the first round. Together, they boast 14 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic gold medals, having never lost a final.
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