Serena Williams, 44, withdrew from Wimbledon women's doubles alongside Venus Williams, 46, after her right knee required fluid drainage following a first-round singles defeat, ending the pair's first Grand Slam doubles appearance together in nearly four years. Images Serena posted on Instagram showed four syringes of fluid removed from the knee after her singles match. The sisters, six-time Wimbledon doubles champions, had not competed together at the All England Club since winning the title in 2016.
Singles Loss Set Off the Injury Sequence
Serena fell to Maya Joint, 20, of Australia 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 on Tuesday in her return to major singles competition. The three-set defeat left the knee unable to withstand another match. Tournament organisers had already moved the sisters' first-round doubles draw — against Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra — later in the week to allow Serena additional recovery time; it was the only first-round doubles match not played earlier in the week.
Partnership Record
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Wimbledon doubles titles together | 6 |
| Grand Slam doubles titles together | 14 |
| Olympic gold medals together | 3 |
| Grand Slam doubles finals record | Undefeated |
| Last Wimbledon doubles appearance | 2016 (won) |
| Most recent Grand Slam doubles entry | 2022 U.S. Open, first round |
The 2022 U.S. Open — a first-round exit — was the only doubles pairing between the sisters in the four-year gap before this week. Their combined doubles record in Grand Slam finals shows 14 titles and zero defeats.
Serena's Statement and the Road Ahead
"I'm heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles," Serena wrote on Instagram. "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 but unfortunately my knee just isn't ready to compete."
The post included a video of Serena walking with strapping on her right leg, with what appeared to be one of her daughters holding a cane. She stopped short of announcing retirement: "stay tuned to a city near you." The U.S. Open is the next Grand Slam on the calendar.