Serena Williams will do everything to be ready 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.
The 44-year-old’s highly anticipated comeback to competitive action after four years away ended in disappointment after a 6-3 6-7(6) 6-3 defeat to little-known Australian Maya Joint, and she later skipped her mandatory post-match press conference.
British media reported the 23-times Grand Slam champion was
not fined for her absence because she was injured, with the
focus now shifting to her doubles commitments this week after
she received a wild card to compete with Venus.
The Williams sisters are drawn to play Solana Sierra and
Camila Osorio in the opening round.
“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,” Williams’ agent Jill
Smoller was quoted as saying in the Times newspaper.
“She left site that night unaided and is doing everything
she can to be ready for her doubles match later this week.”
Williams has had a little more time on court in doubles
action after partnering Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko at the
WTA event at Queen’s Club last month. The pair’s 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 went down in their first match.
Source: Khaleej Times