Tennis enthusiasts were eagerly awaiting a highly anticipated reunion at the tournament, but it seems it won’t come to fruition. Serena and Venus Williams were set to play together in a doubles match at Wimbledon this weekend, exactly a decade since they last claimed the women’s doubles championship at the All England Club.
This would have been their 15th grand slam title as partners, and the match’s timing on July 4, a federal holiday in the U.S., added an extra layer of significance for those following the competition.
Serena, aged 44, has now announced her withdrawal from the doubles event, just before she and Venus were set to appear on the court together.
The legendary American player’s decision comes after sustaining a knee injury in her singles match against Australian talent Maya Joint on Centre Court. According to reports, Williams required medical assistance for a “tweak” in her knee during the match.
She was expected to practice at Aorangi Park over the weekend but hadn’t been seen there leading up to the event, raising doubts among fans and organizers about her readiness.
Taking to her social media platform, Williams posted a video showing her limping around her Wimbledon rental with her right knee heavily bandaged.
She also shared images of fluid being extracted from the knee, prompting reactions of empathy and concern from her followers.
In her post, she expressed, “I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles.”
She added, “Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside Venus Williams once more meant the world to me.”
She further commented, “I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete.”
The news ends the prospects of witnessing the sisters compete together, a rare occurrence in recent times since Serena has been away from professional tennis and only resumed playing recently.
Considering her age and the ongoing injury, it’s uncertain if they will have another chance to vie for a Wimbledon doubles title, making this withdrawal particularly poignant for their supporters.