Serena Williams’ return to Wimbledon won’t get a second chapter.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion was forced to withdraw from her doubles match with her sister Venus on Saturday because of a right knee injury, she announced on Instagram.
Sunday was supposed to be the first time the sisters teamed up since the 2022 U.S. Open, as they were set to face Solona Sierra and Camila Osorio.
Serena, who lost to Maya Joint, 3-6, 7-6 (8), 3-6, on June 30 in her singles return, posted a video of her with a brace on her right leg and limping while walking behind one of her daughters – along with photos of her getting treatment.
“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles,” Williams wrote in the caption. “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 to be ready, but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete.
“I’m especially grateful to tournament director, Jamie Baker, and the entire tournament team for giving me every opportunity to play here. Thank you to the fans for your incredible support and for making this comeback so meaningful…All I can say is stay tuned to a city near you…”
The post also included pictures of syringes filled with liquid, which she explained was drained from her knee.
“The photo of the syringes shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match…yikes!” she wrote. “The good news is my knee shouldn’t swell or collect that much fluid again. The bad news is that, as hard as I tried, I just wasn’t able to get it ready for doubles.”
News of Serena Williams’ injury first popped up after she did not meet with the media following her singles defeat, instead releasing a statement. Her agent, Jill Smolder, told the Times of London that Williams ‘tweaked her knee” during the first set against Joint. It was the 13-time Wimbledon champion’s first singles match in nearly four years.
The withdrawal also ends Venus Williams’ time at Wimbledon, as she and mixed doubles partner Kevin Krawietz lost their opening-round match.
