Serena Williams' long-awaited return to Wimbledon has hit another setback.
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Just days after making her first singles appearance at the All England Club in nearly four years, the 44-year-old announced she has withdrawn from the doubles tournament because of a knee injury.
"I'm heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles," Williams wrote in a post on Instagram. "Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside Venus once more meant the world to me."
Williams shared photos showing her heavily bandaged right knee, along with images of medical treatment and fluid being drained from the joint.
"I did everything I could to be ready," she wrote, "but unfortunately my knee just isn't ready to compete."
The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion had received a wild card to compete in both singles and doubles. She returned to Centre Court earlier in the week, falling in a three-set match to Maya Joint in what marked her first singles appearance at Wimbledon since 2021.
Tournament officials gave Serena and sister Venus Williams an extra day to prepare for their opening-round doubles match, but Serena ultimately determined she could not continue.
The Williams sisters have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, including six at Wimbledon, making the anticipated reunion one of the tournament's biggest storylines.
Despite the disappointing withdrawal, Serena suggested her comeback isn't over.
"All I can say is stay tuned to a city near you," she wrote.
While the doubles run will have to wait, Williams' message made one thing clear: she still isn't ready to close the book on her return to professional tennis.
