Serena Williams’ highly anticipated return to Wimbledon has ended in heartbreak. After her singles defeat, the 23-time Grand Slam champion was forced to abandon her doubles partnership with her sister, Venus Williams. She received heartfelt support from her husband, Alexis Ohanian, after announcing the crushing news, with Coco Gauff also sharing a touching message.
How Coco Gauff Reacted to Serena Williams’ Wimbledon Doubles Withdrawal
Williams recently took Wimbledon by storm by making her singles comeback against Maya Joint, who claimed a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 victory in their first-round clash despite the American’s promising performance. The match not only ended in a loss but also left the former world No. 1 with a knee injury, which cast doubt on her much-awaited doubles campaign alongside her sister, Venus.
Although the 44-year-old initially remained optimistic about recovering in time for their opening match, she was ultimately forced to withdraw due to the injury.
“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside @venuswilliams once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could to be ready, but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete,” she posted on Instagram.
While expressing her heartfelt gratitude to fans, the 23-time Grand Slam champion also hinted at being back on tour soon.
“I’m especially grateful to tournament director, Jamie Baker, and the entire tournament team for giving me every opportunity to play here. Thank you to the fans for your incredible support and for making this comeback so meaningful…All I can say is stay tuned to a city near you…”
Williams shared a glimpse of the significant amount of fluid drained from her knee, but reassured fans that the issue was unlikely to become a recurring problem.
“The photo of the syringes shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match…yikes! The good news is my knee shouldn’t swell or collect that much fluid again. The bad news is that, as hard as I tried, I just wasn’t able to get it ready for doubles.”
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Coco Gauff, who has been itching for a chance to team up with Williams for doubles, was among the first to send her well wishes, commenting, “Get well soon ❤️❤️❤️.”
The former world No. 1 also received support from her husband, Alexis Ohanian, who had been by her side at Wimbledon along with their daughters, Olympia and Adira.
Cheering section will return! pic.twitter.com/HuTy4EzDni
— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) July 4, 2026
While it remains to be seen where Serena Williams will continue her comeback, fans will be hoping to see her in action during the North American hardcourt swing, particularly at the US Open, where she famously retired in 2022.
