LONDON : Serena Williams is doing everything possible to be fit for her Wimbledon doubles campaign alongside sister Venus after suffering a knee injury during her first-round singles defeat, her agent said on Wednesday.
The 44-year-old American’s long-awaited return to competitive singles after a four-year absence ended in a 6-3 6-7(6) 6-3 loss to Australian Maya Joint on Tuesday.
Williams did not attend her mandatory post-match news conference, with British media reporting that she avoided a fine after being excused because of the injury.
Attention has now turned to her doubles campaign, where she and Venus received a wildcard entry and are scheduled to face 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,” her agent Jill Smoller was quoted as saying by 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 already returned to doubles competition this season, partnering Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko at the WTA tournament at Queen’s Club, where their run ended after Mboko suffered a knee injury during the singles event.
She then teamed up with Czech player Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Open, but the pair were eliminated in the opening round.
