Venus Williams and her sister Serena withdrew from the women’s doubles at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships on 4 July 2026, ending their much‑anticipated comeback after Serena’s knee injury resurfaced during her singles match.
What happened?
Serena, 44, entered Wimbledon as a singles wild‑card and fell 3‑6, 7‑6(6), 3‑6 to 20‑year‑old Australian Maya Joint in the first round. The loss was followed by a social‑media note that she had “tweaked her knee” in the opening set and that the joint was not ready for doubles play. The pair’s first‑round doubles match against Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra was postponed repeatedly before the sisters finally announced the withdrawal.
Why it matters for Venus Williams
The Williams sisters have captured six Wimbledon doubles titles together, a legacy that has defined Venus’s career on grass. Losing the chance to compete removes a rare opportunity for Venus, now 46, to add another Grand Slam trophy to her résumé. It also means she will miss the chance to test her movement on the slick early‑season grass, a surface that has challenged even seasoned champions after long layoffs.
How the withdrawal reshapes Venus’s summer
Venus had already secured wild‑cards for the Toronto and Washington, D.C. hard‑court events. With the Wimbledon doubles exit, she can focus entirely on those tournaments, aiming to boost her ranking ahead of the U.S. Open swing. The mixed‑doubles pairing with Germany’s Kevin Krawietz also ended in a loss to Lloyd Glasspool and Tereza Mihalikova, the No. 7 seeds, on Friday, confirming that the sisters’ Wimbledon chapter is closed.
What’s next for Venus?
While Serena’s future plans remain unclear, Venus is expected to compete in the Canadian Open and the Washington Open later this month. Those events will give her a chance to gauge her form on hard courts and possibly secure a deep run before the U.S. Open. Fans will be watching closely to see if she can translate her grass‑court experience into success on the faster surfaces.
How the tennis world reacted
Tournament director Jamie Baker thanked the sisters for their contributions, and fans took to social media to express disappointment mixed with admiration for the duo’s perseverance. Venus posted a brief note thanking supporters and confirming her upcoming wild‑card entries, underscoring her commitment to stay active on the tour despite the setback.
The withdrawal marks the end of a historic partnership at Wimbledon, but Venus’s schedule suggests she will remain a visible presence on the tour throughout the summer, aiming to add more chapters to an already storied career.