Serena Williams made a surprising return to singles at Wimbledon. Unfortunately, she lost to Maya Joint in the opening round and suffered a knee injury. Despite this setback, Williams intended to play doubles with her sister Venus. However, she had to withdraw.
In an Instagram post on July 4, Williams, 44, expressed her disappointment. “I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles,” she wrote. “Competing again has been a gift, and playing with @venuswilliams once more meant the world to me. I did everything to be ready, but my knee just isn’t ready.”
Williams shared photos of syringes containing fluid drained from her knee. This highlighted the impossibility of competing with Venus in doubles.
Two weeks after, Williams appeared on TikTok, dancing and looking more positive. “Looks like my knee is getting better. Finally!” she captioned.
This summer, many believed Williams aimed to use the grass season to prepare for the US Open. Her last appearance was at the 2022 US Open in singles and doubles with Venus. She took a break from tennis for nearly four years.
Williams resumed her outstanding professional career in early June. She partnered with Victoria Mboko in doubles at the HSBC Championships in London. The next week, she played doubles with Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Tennis Open.
The 2026 US Open draw is still weeks away. Whether Williams will compete is uncertain, but her knee seems not to be a hindrance.
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