The highly anticipated Grand Slam reunion of tennis’s most iconic sibling duo has come to a sudden and disappointing halt. Seven-time Wimbledon singles champion Serena Williams officially announced her withdrawal from the women’s doubles tournament alongside her sister Venus, citing a right knee injury that left her physically unable to compete.
The legendary 44-year-old superstar suffered the right knee tweak on Tuesday during her intense, three-set first-round singles match against Australia’s Maya Joint. The grueling match marked Serena’s first major singles appearance following a multi-year hiatus, but the physical toll proved too severe to overcome in time for her doubles scheduling.
Taking to her official social media channels just hours before she and Venus were scheduled to hit the grass courts, Serena shared a vulnerable health update with her global fanbase. Alongside a video showing her hobbling with heavy medical strapping down her right leg, the tennis icon posted shocking photos of multiple large syringes filled with fluid that medical staff had to drain from her joint. “I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles,” Serena wrote. “Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside Venus once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete.”
The sudden withdrawal is a massive blow to tournament organizers and fans who were eager to witness the six-time Wimbledon doubles champions share the court for the first time since 2022. The wildcard pairing had been scheduled to face off against the duo of Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio in a highly anticipated opening-round match.
While the injury has completely dashed her hopes of a deep run at the All England Club, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion explicitly hinted that this setback might not be the final chapter of her historic career. Closing out her emotional statement, Serena thanked the tournament directors and her fans for their unwavering support before teasing future summer appearances on the hardcourt circuit ahead of the US Open. “All I can say,” Serena noted, “is stay tuned to a city near you.”
