Serena Williams pulls out of Wimbledon doubles with knee injury

Serena Williams' highly anticipated Wimbledon comeback has been cut short. The American tennis icon has withdrawn from the doubles tournament, just hours before her scheduled first-round match with her sister Venus, due to a persistent knee injury.

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I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles.

Williams, 44, revealed on Instagram that her knee had not sufficiently healed following the injury sustained during her singles match defeat against Maya Joint earlier in the week. This singles match was her first since the 2022 US Open, marking her return after 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. She shared graphic details on social media, including a photo of fluid drained from her knee, indicating the severity of the injury. "I did everything I could to be ready, but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete," she added.

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

Despite the disappointment, Williams expressed gratitude to the Wimbledon organizers, including tournament director Jamie Baker, for providing her with the opportunity to compete. Her withdrawal means her fans saw her play only one match during this comeback attempt. Questions now linger about her ability to recover in time for the US Open later this year and how much longer her return to tennis will continue.

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