Serena Williams withdraws from doubles, her Wimbledon return ends sooner than expected

Serena Williams' highly anticipated return to Wimbledon has concluded prematurely due to a persistent knee injury. After an earlier singles exit, the American tennis legend was set to compete in the women's doubles alongside her sister Venus.

However, the scheduled doubles match against Colombia's Camila Osorio and Argentina's Solana Sierra never took place. Williams announced her withdrawal, citing the knee issue that hampered her singles performance. The delay in her doubles match, with no court assigned for an extended period, signaled uncertainty about her physical condition.

In an Instagram post, Williams shared her "heartbreak" over the withdrawal, emphasizing that the opportunity to play with Venus again meant the world to her. She revealed that despite her best efforts, her knee was not ready for competition. She even shared a photo of fluid drained from her knee after her singles match, explaining that while the swelling might not return, the injury prevented her from playing doubles.

Her singles return had already been a difficult one, with a three-set loss to Australia's Maya Joint. Despite the defeat, Williams received a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd. Notably, she did not attend the mandatory post-match press conference, a decision that raised eyebrows but did not result in a fine from the organizers, a departure from Wimbledon's usual strict enforcement of its rules.