See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy MATTHEW LAMBWELL, TENNIS REPORTER and LETTICE BROMOVSKY AT WIMBLEDON Published: 12:28 BST, 1 July 2026 | Updated: 13:06 BST, 1 July 2026
Serena Williams' eagerly anticipated Wimbledon doubles reunion with sister Venus has been thrown into doubt after her agent revealed the tennis legend injured her right knee during her singles comeback.The 44-year-old's representative confirmed to the Daily Mail on Wednesday that Williams 'tweaked' her knee during her first-round defeat to Australia's Maya Joint, explaining why she was excused from her mandatory post-match media duties.The update raises fresh uncertainty over whether Serena will be fit to take to the court alongside Venus later this week, with the sisters due to make their long-awaited return as a doubles partnership at the All England Club.Jill Smoller, Williams' agent, said: 'Serena tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set and was therefore excused from her media obligations 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.'While Smoller's statement stressed that Williams is working to recover in time, it stopped short of guaranteeing she will be available, leaving a cloud hanging over one of the most anticipated storylines of this year's Championships. Serena is due to team up with Venus on Friday in the first round of the doubles, an event the sisters have won together six times. The Williams' will play Argentine/Colombian pair Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio - if Serena is fit to take to the court. Serena Williams' team have hit back at 'astounding' criticism of the 44-year-old tennis star Williams elected to skip her mandatory press conference after her match on Tuesday nightBetween them, Serena and Venus have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals, with Wimbledon holding particular significance after the pair lifted the ladies' doubles trophy six times together. It is no wonder that Serena's 44-year-old body showed signs of wear during an almost two and a half hour match, after four years without competitive singles action. The 23-time Grand Slam champion did visibly subside in the closing stages of the match and this knee issue could explain why.As the media waited for Serena to appear on Tuesday night, an alert came through from the All England Club, saying: 'Unfortunately Serena Williams will not be able to undertake media this evening. Please see below quotes from her:'It was really great to be back at Wimbledon. 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'.'This set off a storm of social media criticism, with fans attacking Williams for skipping press, implying effectively that she had flounced off after a tough defeat.But the wording of the announcement that Williams would be 'not able' to do media suggested something more concrete than a mere refusal. On Wednesday morning the All England Club confirmed to Daily Mail Sport that Serena would not face the usual fine of up to £37,000 for skipping media duties, which again implied there was a legitimate reason.One of Serena's coaches, former doubles world No1 Rennae Stubbs, cracked back at the social media critics, posting: 'The hate and lack of empathy in this world is astounding to me. Especially when you have no idea what you're talking about. Just blows my mind.'
