Serena Williams Returns to Tennis at Wimbledon

Serena Williams made a noteworthy return to singles tennis at Wimbledon, although her comeback met with difficulties. She faced Maya Joint in the opening round, where she both lost the match and injured her knee.

Despite this setback, Williams attempted to compete in doubles alongside her sister, Venus Williams. However, she eventually had to withdraw. On July 4, Williams expressed her disappointment on Instagram, writing, “I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside @venuswilliams once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could to be ready, but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete.” Her post included photos of syringes filled with fluid drained from her knee, clearly illustrating her physical limitations.

Two weeks later, Williams’ spirits seemed to lift. She posted a TikTok video where she danced and appeared more upbeat. She captioned the video with, “Looks like my knee is getting better. Finally!”

There has been a general belief this summer that Williams intended to use the grass season to prepare for the US Open. Williams last competed at the US Open in 2022, participating in both singles and doubles with Venus, before stepping away from tennis for nearly four years.

Her official return to competitive tennis began when she teamed with Victoria Mboko in doubles at the HSBC Championships in London’s Queen’s Club in early June. The following week, Williams and Karolina Muchova participated in doubles at the Berlin Tennis Open.

The draw for the 2026 US Open will not be announced for weeks, leaving questions about Williams’ participation. Nonetheless, it appears her knee will not determine her ability to compete.