Serena Williams will do everything possible to be fit for her Wimbledon doubles campaign alongside older sister Venus after sustaining a knee injury during her opening singles defeat on Tuesday, the American's agent said.
Singles comeback ends in disappointment
The 44-year-old's highly anticipated return to competitive action after four years away ended in disappointment with a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 loss to little-known Australian Maya Joint. Following the match, she skipped her mandatory post-match press conference.
British media reported that the 23-time Grand Slam champion was not fined for her absence because she was injured. The focus now shifts to her doubles commitments this week after she received a wild card to compete with Venus.
Doubles draw and injury details
The Williams sisters are drawn to play Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio in the opening round. According to Williams' agent Jill Smoller, as quoted in the Times newspaper, “Serena tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set (against Joint) and was 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.”
Recent doubles form
Williams has had a little more time on court in doubles action recently. She partnered Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko at the WTA event at Queen's Club last month, but their campaign was cut short after Mboko's knee injury in singles action. Williams then paired up with Czech Karolina Muchova in the Berlin Open, but the duo lost in their first match.
