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The Williams sisters’ return to competitive tennis as a duo is over before it started.
In their first Grand Slam doubles competition together in almost four years, Serena, 44, and Venus were forced to withdraw from the Wimbledon doubles following the younger Serena’s knee injury.
Serena was injured during her singles return earlier this week – in a three-set loss.
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Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States during their women’s doubles match at Arthur Ashe Stadium against Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic during the 2022 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center on September 1, 2022 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
“I’m devastated to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift and the opportunity to play with @venuswilliams again meant the world to me. I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete,” Serena said in an Instagram post.
The post included pictures of four syringes, which Serena said “show the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match.” An accompanying video showed her walking with tourniquets up and down her right leg and what appeared to be one of her daughters holding a cane for her.
But with the US Open approaching, Serena indicated that she could soon play again somewhere else.
“All I can say,” Serena said, “is keep an eye out for a town near you.”
Serena Williams, left, meets her sister Venus Williams after their match during the third round of the US Open tennis tournament, in Flushing, NY, on August 31, 2018.
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The Williams sisters – Venus is 46 – were scheduled to play Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra. It was the only first-round doubles match not scheduled earlier in the week, having been pushed back to give Serena more time to recover.
Serena was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia on Tuesday in her big comeback.
The Williams sisters are six-time champions as partners in women’s doubles at Wimbledon. It was the first time they had teamed up at Wimbledon since winning it in 2016. It was also the first time they had teamed up since the 2022 US Open, which they lost in the first round.
Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States during their women’s doubles match at Arthur Ashe Stadium against Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic during the 2022 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center on September 1, 2022 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Together they have 14 grand slam titles, as well as three Olympic gold medals, as a team and have never lost a final.
