Clare Balding makes Serena Williams announcement in devastating BBC update | Tennis | Sport

“Now, breaking news. This certainly is the last we have seen of Serena Williams at this year’s Wimbledon, having been beaten by Maya Joint on Tuesday night,” Balding said as footage of Serena’s three-set singles defeat to Aussie ace Joint was shown.

“The seven-times champion in singles here at Wimbledon. As she exited Centre [Court], we expected to see her back here today in the doubles but she and Venus are out. They have withdrawn from the doubles, and Serena’s right knee injury causing issues serious enough to mean that she cannot play in the doubles.”

Serena, who returned from retirement last month in doubles and then played her first singles match since the 2022 US Open against Joint here earlier this week, tweaked her knee during the opening set of that match. The 44-year-old had said she was doing “everything she could” to be ready to reunite with her sister in doubles.

They were due to face Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra no earlier than 4.30pm on Saturday. All other women’s doubles first-round matches were scheduled across Thursday and Friday, but tournament director Jamie Baker had previously confirmed organisers were “giving her as much time” as they could. It is not unprecedented for first-round doubles matches to go over three days if needed.

But the younger Williams sister announced her withdrawal in a social media post at around 3.30pm, 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.”

She thanked Baker and the tournament team for giving her “every opportunity ”to play, and shared gruesome photos of fluid that had been removed from her knee.