Serena Williams tweaked knee during singles return, agent says - ESPN

Serena Williams' status to play in women's doubles at Wimbledon is uncertain after she suffered a knee injury during her first singles match in nearly four years.

Williams' agent, Jill Smoller, released a statement Wednesday saying Williams «tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set» of her first-round loss to Maya Joint on Tuesday. Smoller added that was the reason Williams did not speak with reporters after her match, saying she was excused by the Wimbledon and WTA medical teams.

«She left site that night unaided and is doing everything she can to be ready for her doubles match later this week,» Smoller said.

Williams is slated to play doubles with her sister Venus starting with a first-round match against Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra.

Serena Williams was not on the schedule to practice at the All England Club on Wednesday. Venus Williams is slated to practice alone.

On Tuesday, Serena Williams, 44, fought back to take her first singles match since the 2022 US Open to a third set but ultimately fell 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 to the 20-year-old Joint in a 2-hour, 22-minute match.

There had been no indication during the match that the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion had hurt herself, but she did not attend the customary postmatch news conference, instead issuing a statement.

«It was really great to be back at Wimbledon,» Williams said. «I never expected to be here. The atmosphere was amazing. Walking out was amazing. I definitely relished it and missed it and enjoyed the moment more than anything.»

The Williams sisters are six-time doubles champions at Wimbledon, winning their last title in their most recent appearance together in 2016.

Serena Williams received a wild card to play at Wimbledon after announcing