Serena Williams Suffers Knee Injury Ahead of Long-Awaited Wimbledon Reunion With Venus
Serena Williams Suffers Knee Injury Ahead of Long-Awaited Wimbledon Reunion With Venus
Serena Williams suffered a right knee injury during her Wimbledon singles comeback, casting uncertainty over her highly anticipated doubles reunion with sister Venus later this week.Maggie MacKenzie|
For one set, it looked like Serena Williams' long-awaited Wimbledon return was unfolding almost exactly as fans had hoped.
Then came the scare no one saw coming.
Williams suffered a right knee injury during Tuesday's first-round singles match against Maya Joint, creating immediate uncertainty around one of the tournament's biggest storylines: her scheduled doubles reunion with sister Venus Williams later this week.
The injury occurred late in the opening set of Serena's first Wimbledon singles appearance in four years.
Although the 23-time Grand Slam champion battled through the discomfort and pushed Joint to three sets before falling 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3, concern quickly shifted from Tuesday's result to whether she will be healthy enough to take the court again on Friday.
After the match, Williams was excused from her mandatory media obligations by Wimbledon and WTA medical staff because of the injury.
Serena Williams Shares Encouraging Update After Wimbledon Injury
Serena's longtime agent, Jill Smoller, later confirmed the injury in a statement.
"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."
Smoller added that Williams "left site that night unaided and is doing everything she can to be ready for her doubles match later this week."
A short time later, Serena addressed the situation herself on Instagram, reassuring fans that she intends to do everything possible to return to the court.
"I tweaked my knee late in the first set, but I'll be doing everything I can to be ready for doubles with @venuswilliams."
Neither Williams nor her team disclosed the severity of the injury, and as of Wednesday afternoon she remained in the doubles draw.
Serena and Venus' Wimbledon Reunion Suddenly Hangs in the Balance
That's what makes Tuesday's injury particularly significant.
The Williams sisters are scheduled to compete together at Wimbledon for the first time in a decade after accepting a wild card into the women's doubles tournament. Few pairings in tennis history have matched their success.
Together, Serena and Venus captured six Wimbledon doubles championships and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles while becoming one of the sport's most iconic teams.
Their return has been one of the defining storylines of this year's Championships, bringing the sisters back to the All England Club as partners for the first time since 2016.
Tuesday's singles match had already marked another milestone. It was Serena's first Wimbledon singles appearance since 2022, and despite the loss, the Centre Court crowd responded with a standing ovation after watching the seven-time Wimbledon singles champion push the 20-year-old Australian to three competitive sets.
Now, however, the focus shifts entirely to Serena's recovery.
The sisters are still scheduled to face Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio in the opening round of the doubles draw on Friday, but that appearance will likely depend on how Williams' knee responds over the next 48 hours.
For now, the match remains on. But one awkward step during Serena's comeback has suddenly placed one of Wimbledon's most anticipated moments in doubt.
Published 2 minutes ago
MAGGIE MACKENZIEMaggie MacKenzie is a Boston-based writer and editor who has spent more than a decade covering sports and entertainment, with a deep focus on NASCAR. At NASCAR.com she covered the sport from race-weekends and analysis to larger stories covering the athletes, teams and series. Maggie has also held editorial roles across sports media, including as a copy editor and writer at Sports Business Journal, where she worked on coverage of the business side of professional sports, and at Heavy.com covering sports and entertainment. Maggie has been writing and editing professionally for more than ten years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Fairfield University and an MBA from Babson College.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
