Overview
- Serena Williams announced on Saturday that she was withdrawing from the Wimbledon women’s doubles with sister Venus because her right knee was not ready to compete.
- Williams sustained the knee problem during her three‑set singles loss to Maya Joint and posted images showing a heavily bandaged leg and syringes of fluid drained from the joint.
- Wimbledon delayed the sisters’ first‑round doubles match to allow extra recovery time but accepted the withdrawal when Serena remained unfit to play.
- The late withdrawal joins several other last‑minute doubles pullouts that have produced walkovers and allowed alternates to enter and advance in the draw.
- The Williams sisters’ planned reunion is cancelled for this event, but Serena signalled she may try more tournaments later in the North American hard‑court swing and the US Open.