Serena Williams' highly anticipated Wimbledon return has suffered another setback after the tennis legend withdrew from the women's doubles competition on Saturday because of a right knee injury.
The 44-year-old was due to partner her sister, Venus Williams, in what would have been the siblings' first Wimbledon doubles appearance together in years. However, the injury Serena sustained during her singles comeback earlier this week forced her to pull out before the pair could take to the court.
Serena, who returned to Grand Slam action for the first time in nearly four years, injured her right knee during her three-set first-round singles defeat to Australian Maya Joint. Despite receiving treatment in an effort to recover, she was unable to regain full fitness in time for the doubles event.
In a message shared on social media, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion expressed her disappointment.
«"I'm heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside Venus once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could, but unfortunately my knee just isn't ready to compete."»
Serena also revealed she underwent treatment to drain fluid from her injured knee, sharing images of the medical procedure with her followers.
The withdrawal brings an abrupt end to what many fans hoped would be a memorable Wimbledon reunion for the Williams sisters, who have won six Wimbledon doubles titles together and are regarded as one of the greatest doubles partnerships in tennis history.
Despite the disappointment, Serena hinted that her return to competitive tennis may not be over, telling fans to "stay tuned to a city near you," raising speculation about a possible appearance later in the season, potentially at the U.S. Open.
