Shoddy Serena “comeback’ fizzles with doubles pullout

The much-hyped Wimbledon comeback of 44-year-old Serena Williams sputtered to an ignominious halt on Saturday with an injury pullout hours before a doubles match alongside elder sister Venus.

The pair had been given a conciliatory late start with a one-day delay before their first-round match against Maria Osoaio of Colombia and Argentine Solana Sierra.

But Williams pulled the plug on any participation in mid-afternoon, citing the knee injury she claimed after her singles loss to the 20-year-old Joint four days earlier.

Williams went on social media to break the news, publishing pictures of her knee to help make the pullout case.

“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside Venus 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.

“I’m especially grateful to tournament director, Jamie Baker, and the entire tournament team for giving me every opportunity to play here. Thank you to the fans for your incredible support and for making this comeback so meaningful…All I can say is stay tuned to a city near you…”

Williams then bolstered her medical excuse with explicit photos:   

“The photo of the syringes shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match…yikes! The good news is my knee shouldn’t swell or collect that much fluid again. 

“The bad news is that, as hard as I tried, I just wasn’t able to get it ready for doubles.”

The Williams paring had been touted all during the Wimbledon first week, with bosses giving the sister act every benefit of the doubt. Their doubles match did not even have a time as officials waited for a showcase court to clear out in early evening as play ended.

Williams, who received both singles and doubles wildcard in a grand gesture by the All England Club likely has officials feeling taken in by what could be described as a tennis pump-and-dump maneuver.

Williams lasted for one singles match this week, losing to Australian Maya Joint, with the American claiming her knee injury prevented her presence, thereby escaping a USD 50,000 sanction for missing a mandatory post-match media conference.