Serena Williams withdraws from doubles match with sister Venus at Wimbledon due to injury

LONDON (AP) — Serena Williams withdrew from her doubles match with sister Venus at Wimbledon on Saturday due to a right knee injury.

The 44-year-old Serena was injured during her singles return earlier in the week — in a three-set loss.

“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside (at)venuswilliams once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete,” Serena said in an Instagram post.

The post included images of four syringes that Serena said “shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match.” An accompanying video showed her walking with strapping up and down her right leg and what appeared to be one of her daughters holding a cane for her.

However, with the U.S. Open approaching, Serena indicated she could play again somewhere else soon.

“All I can say,” Serena said, “is stay tuned to a city near you.”

The Williams sisters — Venus is 46 — were scheduled to play Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra. It was the only first-round doubles match that wasn't scheduled earlier in the week, having been pushed back to give Serena more time to recover.

Serena was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia on Tuesday.

Venus played in the mixed doubles tournament on Friday together with Kevin Krawietz, losing in straight sets to Tereza Mihalikova and Lloyd Glasspool.

The Williams sisters are six-time champions as partners in women's doubles at Wimbledon.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Venus Williams of the United States plays a return during the first round mixed doubles match with her partner Kevin Krawietz of Germany against Lloyd Glasspool of Britain and Tereza Mihalikova of Slovakia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning a point against Maya Joint of Australia in their first round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Serena Williams of the United States greets the audience as she leaves after losing to Maya Joint of Australia in their first round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Serena Williams of the United States sits during a changeover in her first round women's singles match against Maya Joint of Australia, at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

BARCELONA (AP) — Defending champion Tadej Pogacar gifted victory to his teammate Isaac Del Toro on the second stage of the Tour de France while Jonas Vingegaard retained the overall lead on Sunday.

Del Toro attacked on the 700-meter climb to the finish to put Pogacar in a position to win, but Pogacar instead slowed down and put his arm on the Mexican rider's shoulder as he let him cross the line first. The 22-year-old Del Toro looked open-mouthed with surprise at the sporting gesture from Pogacar, who is looking to win the race for the third straight time and fifth overall.

As an exhausted Del Toro sat on the ground to get his breath back on a hot day, Pogacar went over to tightly hug his UAE Emirates-XRG teammate, who looked emotional after clinching his first Tour stage win.

Belgium rider Remco Evenepoel finished the stage in third place, just ahead of Vingegaard in fourth spot. The top four all clocked a time of 3 hours, 40 minutes, 1 second, but with the top three receiving time bonuses, Vinegaard's lead over Pogacar was trimmed from 12 seconds to six seconds.

Vingegaard is looking to win the Tour for the third time after triumphing in 2022 and ’23. The Danish rider took the yellow jersey on Saturday after leading his Visma-Lease a Bike team to victory in the opening-day time trial around Barcelona.

Stage 2 on Sunday took riders on a hilly 168.5-kilometer (104.5-mile) route starting from the Catalonian city of Tarragona, and featured three ascents to the 17th century Montjuïc castle before ending in Barcelona.

Two breakaway riders — Dutchman Alex Molenaar and German Felix Engelhardt — were caught with about 30 kilometers to go.

As the peloton increased its speed, Vingegaard and Pogacar positioned themselves near the front to minimize the risk of being caught in a crash. Mindful of Pogacar launching one of his trademark sudden attacks, Vingegaard sat on Pogacar's wheel on the climbs.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 168.5 kilometers (104.3 miles) with start in Tarragona and finish in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Mexico's Isaac Del Toro, center, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Tarragone and finish in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Mexico's Isaac Del Toro, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Tarragone and finish in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, left, and Mexico's Isaac Del Toro celebrate as they cross the finish line of the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Tarragone and finish in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, left, wearing the best young rider's white jersey, and Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, center, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Colombia's Egan Bernal, right, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey, before the start of the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 168.5 kilometers (104.3 miles) with start in Tarragona and finish in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)