Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Wimbledon doubles competition due to a knee injury she sustained during her singles match against Maya Joint earlier this week. The 44-year-old tennis legend shared her disappointment on Instagram, explaining that despite her efforts to be ready, her knee was not prepared for competition. This withdrawal means that the long-anticipated doubles reunion with her sister Venus, originally set for their first joint tournament since the 2022 US Open, will have to be postponed.

Williams suffered the knee injury near the end of her first-round singles match, which she lost in three sets to the 20-year-old Joint. Following the match, Serena was excused from mandatory media duties, with her agent Jill Smoller confirming the incident and noting that Wimbledon officials granted this exemption. The injury was severe enough to require fluid removal from the knee, as indicated by Serena's social media posts showing syringes and her walking gingerly.

The Williams sisters had received a wild-card entry into the Wimbledon doubles draw, adding to the excitement around their potential comeback. The pair had previously won six Wimbledon doubles titles between 2000 and 2016 and were expected to compete together for the first time in four years. Serena made her official return to professional tennis last month, participating in doubles tune-up tournaments and securing a late wild card for Wimbledon singles, her first singles appearance since the 2022 US Open.

Going forward, it remains uncertain when Serena Williams will return to competitive play, especially as the WTA Tour heads into the North American swing later this month. Possible upcoming tournaments where she could appear include the National Bank Open in Montreal, DC Open, Cincinnati Open, and the Memphis Classic. Meanwhile, Venus Williams recently secured a singles wild card for the National Bank Open starting July 31, signaling that the Williams sisters’ tennis activities continue to draw attention despite the current setback.