Serena Williams Pulls Out of Wimbledon Doubles with Knee Injury

Serena Williams' highly anticipated return to Wimbledon has been cut short as she withdrew from the doubles competition citing a knee injury. The American legend and her sister Venus were slated to compete in the first round on Saturday, but Serena announced her withdrawal just hours before the match.

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I'm heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, sustained the injury during her singles match earlier in the week. This marked her first singles appearance since the 2022 US Open, following a four-year retirement. The sisters, who have won the Wimbledon doubles title six times together, were given a wild card entry into this year's event.

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Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside Venus once more meant the world to me.

"I'm heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles," Williams stated on Instagram, sharing images of fluid drained from her knee. She explained that despite her efforts to be ready, her knee was not capable of competing. Williams expressed gratitude to the tournament organizers for the opportunity to play.

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I did everything I could to be ready, but unfortunately my knee just isn't ready to compete.

Her withdrawal means her fans saw her compete in only one match during this Wimbledon campaign. Questions now arise about her ability to recover in time for the US Open later this year, and the long-term prospects of her comeback remain uncertain.

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The photo of the syringes shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match...yikes!