Serena Williams’ Comeback Cut Short By Jabeur Injury

Serena Williams’ return to tennis action was cut short after her women’s doubles partner, Ons Jabeur, withdrew from the Eastbourne International because of a knee injury.

The WTA event had seen the 40-year-old star play her first two competitive matches since she limped out of last year’s Wimbledon in tears with a hamstring problem.

The American and Tunisia’s Jabeur made it through to the semi-finals with a narrow last-16 win over Maria Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo, before a more convincing quarter-final victory in straight sets against Chan Hao-ching and Shuko Aoyama.

Williams is now to focus on Wimbledon, where she has accepted a wild card into the women’s singles in a bid to win a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title.

She is to find out who she faces in the first round when the draw is made today.

On Wednesday, Williams and Jabeur defeated Taiwan’s Chan and Japan’s Aoyama 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon warm-up event at Devonshire Park.

On Tuesday, in her first appearance in 12 months, Williams initially looked rusty in the duo’s victory over Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova.

However, she grew into that match and was more like her old self in Wednesday’s match.

It took only two minutes for the American to send down an ace before several clinical volleys provided the first break.

The opening set was wrapped up in 25 minutes and another break inspired by Williams in the ninth game of the second set put them on the brink of victory. One more ace for Williams helped get her and Jabeur over the line.

“I don’t know if you know the team name? It’s ‘OnSerena,’” Serena said of her partnership with Jabeur, who had never played with the American until this week.

Before Williams made the surprise announcement of her return last week, rumors of retirement had swirled around her for months.

June 23, 2022