Serena Williams withdrew from doubles at Wimbledon on Saturday, marking the end of her time at the 2026 Championships.
Williams was set to play alongside her older sister, Venus, against the duo of Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio, in what would have been the first time the iconic duo had played a professional doubles match together since the 2022 US Open.
But having tweaked her knee in singles against Maya Joint, the 44-year-old was forced to withdraw from the event.
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Williams took to social media to state she was ‘heartbroken’, explaining: “I did everything I could to be ready but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete.”
After the American pulled out, two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin gave her immediate reaction.
Tracy Austin reacts to Serena Williams’ withdrawal
Speaking on BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon, Austin said: “I’m not surprised because we haven’t seen Serena after losing to Maya Joint, the 20-year-old Australian, on Tuesday evening.
“We haven’t seen her on the practice court for three days. She tweaked her right knee, apparently near the end stages of the first set.
“She looked great in the second set. But this is a disappointment. They’ve won the Championships here together six times.
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“They’ve won 14 major doubles titles together. They’ve won everything, mixed doubles as well.
“Mixed doubles here at Wimbledon was her first ever Grand Slam for Serena. So it would have been nice to have seen Serena and Venus one more time, maybe next year. But not surprised.”
Anne Keothavong thinks Serena Williams will play the US Open
With her Wimbledon run over, Williams now has just under two months to prepare for the US Open, should she choose to feature at the hard-court major.
Williams has not yet confirmed whether she will appear at Flushing Meadows, but former British player Anne Keothavong thinks she will.
Keothavong said: “Well, we don’t know how serious the knee injury is. But I don’t believe she’s put in all this hard work over the past six months for just one singles match here at Wimbledon.
“I do think there is desire. The passion was very much there the other night against Maya Joint at times. You could see the fire was still there. The competitor in her was still definitely there.
“And yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her at the US Open. Though if that is part of the plans, I would like to see her play some matches or play a tournament. One or two before the US Open. I think it would be a wise move.
“And I think that’s something she lacked coming here to Wimbledon. Just some more singles matches under her belt.
“But look, she is the ultimate champion. Like she said, she’s got nothing to prove to anyone. But we’ve had a taste of her here this week. And we want more.”
Williams won six of her 23 Grand Slam titles at the US Open, the last of which she clinched in 2014.
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