Serena Williams has broken her silence after sustaining a knee injury during her Wimbledon singles return, saying she is doing everything possible to be ready for doubles with sister Venus. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, aged 44, made her return to the singles court for the first time in almost four years on Tuesday night, losing 6-3 6-7(6) 6-3 to Maya Joint on Centre Court. Williams did not attend her post-match press conference, instead sending a single quote to the media. It has since emerged that she picked up a knee injury late in the first set, which allowed her to avoid a fine of up to £37,000 for skipping post-match media, as players are permitted to do so if they are ill or injured.
Williams Breaks Silence on Instagram
On Wednesday, Williams posted on Instagram: “It felt so good to be back on the grass at @wimbledon. I’m incredibly thankful for the wild card - and even more grateful my daughters got to see that it’s never too late to chase something you love. I tweaked my knee late in the first set, but I’ll be doing everything I can to be ready for doubles with @venuswilliams. Congratulations to @maya.joint on a great match, and thank you to everyone who showed up and showed me so much love. That feeling will never get old.”
Impact on Doubles Participation
Williams is scheduled to compete in the women’s doubles draw alongside her older sister Venus. The extent of the knee injury remains unclear, but Williams expressed her determination to be ready for the doubles event. The American tennis icon has not played competitive singles since the 2022 US Open, making her Wimbledon return highly anticipated. The injury occurred late in the first set of her match against Joint, but she continued to play through the pain.
Williams’ absence from the post-match press conference raised questions, but her injury provided a legitimate reason for skipping media duties. The fine for missing such conferences can reach £37,000, but the rules allow exceptions for medical reasons. Williams’ statement confirmed the injury and her commitment to the doubles competition.
