Serena Williams made her surprising return to singles at Wimbledon. She faced Maya Joint in the opening round but suffered a knee injury during the match. Although Williams attempted to continue playing doubles with her sister Venus, she eventually withdrew. In a heartfelt Instagram post on July 4, Serena expressed her disappointment, stating, 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 was accompanied by photos showing syringes filled with fluid removed from her knee, illustrating the severity of her condition. Despite her injury, two weeks later, Serena posted a TikTok video demonstrating her improved spirits and better knee condition with the caption, Looks like my knee is getting better. Finally!

Many believed that Williams intended to use the grass season to prepare for the US Open. Prior to this, she last participated in the 2022 US Open, both in singles and in doubles with Venus, before taking a nearly four-year hiatus from professional tennis. Her comeback officially began with a doubles match alongside Victoria Mboko at the HSBC Championships in London in early June, followed by a doubles stint with Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Tennis Open.

Though the draw for the 2026 US Open has yet to be announced, there is anticipation surrounding Williams’ participation. Her knee health appears to not be the main concern for this potential comeback.