Serena Williams has revealed the emotional toll of the knee injury that prevented her from reuniting with sister Venus at Wimbledon, calling it a “little traumatic experience” after the pair finally returned to the doubles court together in Cincinnati.
The Williams sisters were reunited at the Cincinnati Open on Monday, marking their first doubles appearance together since the 2022 US Open. Their long-awaited comeback ended in defeat, but the result mattered far less to Serena than the opportunity to share a court with her sister again.
The 44-year-old had initially planned to partner Venus at Wimbledon after returning to competitive tennis. However, Serena injured her knee during her singles comeback against Australia’s Maya Joint and was forced to withdraw from the doubles event.
She later revealed that fluid had been removed from the injured knee and that her recovery had been considerably more difficult than she’d expected.
“It took me two hours to leave the locker room that night,” Serena said, reflecting on the injury. She added that the recovery had been a long process, admitting she never imagined she’d find herself back in tennis and discussing the experience after her previous career farewell.
Her return in Cincinnati eventually came alongside Venus, 46, with the sisters receiving a wildcard into the doubles draw. It was a highly anticipated reunion between one of tennis’ most successful partnerships.
Williams sisters produce thrilling fightback in Cincinnati
Serena and Venus faced Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in their opening match, and the American pair initially struggled to find their rhythm. They dropped the first set 6-2 before responding emphatically in the second.
The sisters raced through the next set 6-1, showing flashes of the chemistry that helped them win 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals.
Their opponents, however, regained control in the deciding 10-point tiebreak and opened a 6-0 advantage.
The Williams sisters refused to go quietly. Serena delivered two important service winners as they fought their way back into contention, reducing the deficit and putting pressure on Kostyuk and Stearns.
The comeback ultimately fell short, with the Ukrainian-American pairing prevailing 10-8 after Venus double-faulted on match point.
Despite the disappointment, Serena insisted that winning wasn’t the priority. She said she wanted to enjoy the experience, reconnect with Venus and give the Cincinnati crowd another opportunity to watch them compete together.
Venus also emphasized the patience and encouragement they give each other, saying they’d waited a long time to find their way back onto the same court.
The sisters’ future plans remain uncertain, particularly with the US Open approaching. Serena hasn’t committed to a full schedule, but her Cincinnati appearance suggests she’s still willing to explore what this latest chapter can bring.
After the injury, the lengthy recovery and the uncertainty surrounding her comeback, simply playing alongside Venus again represented something meaningful for Serena.
Read the full article here
