Serena Williams’ Wimbledon comeback is in doubt after she “tweaked her knee” during last night’s defeat to Maya Joint on Centre Court. The 44-year-old, who was playing her first singles match in four years, is scheduled to play doubles with her sister Venus Williams later this week.
Williams went down fighting as she was beaten by Joint in a thrilling three-set battle under the roof on Centre Court. She was then excused from her post-match media duties, with her agent later confirming that the 23-time grand slam champion felt her knee at the end of the first set.
The American’s agent Jill Smoller said Williams, who only made her comeback to tennis in doubles last month, will do “everything she can to be ready for her doubles match”, which is set to be scheduled on Thursday or Friday.
Elsewhere, there are no British players in action in the singles on day three of the Championships after Monday’s wipeout, but Dan Evans completed his farewell tour as he lost 6-2 6-4 in his final tournament before retirement, competing alongside former junior champion Henry Searle in the men’s doubles.
Later, Novak Djokovic battles Stefanos Tsitsipas as defending champion Jannik Sinner and world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka also return to action. There’s also an eye-catching contests between two French Open winners, current champion Mirra Andreeva and Barbora Krejcikova, who is also a former Wimbledon champion.
Follow latest scores and updates from Wimbledon, below
Flavio Cobolli battles through after two-day test against Mario Navone
With Jannik Sinner on action on Centre Court, another Italian is through. Flavio Cobolli, the French Open runner-up, has come through his first-round match against Mario Navone that was suspended from last night due to bad light. That could have gone to five sets, but Cobolli emerges with a gutsy win 1-6, 7-6 6-3 7-6. Cobolli saved six set points in the fourth. “I hate my life,” he laughs. “I’m really happy, how I managed my game. It’s not easy to come back. I didn’t sleep so well.”
On Centre Court, Rory McIlroy is wearing his Masters green jacket. You would, wouldn’t you.
Dan Evans on playing the final match of his career at Wimbledon
“It was obviously two extra players on the court than what I expected how it was going to finish. But listen, I have enjoyed every time I stepped on court here. We’re extremely lucky to have this as our home Grand Slam.
“It was nice to finish playing with Henry [Searle], someone who I have obviously started to work a lot with and see sort of develop a bit. It’s a pretty cool way to finish.
“I have had plenty of time to sort of know it was coming. So, yeah, in a strange way I’m happy it’s over. Sort of the door closes, and then another chapter starts.”
Jannik Sinner underway on Centre Court
Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner will be hoping for a smoother second round after being taken to five sets by Miomir Kecmanovic in his first round on Monday. The world No 1 is back in action against Nuno Borges of Portugal, and is performing in front of a bunch of Europe’s Ryder Cup stars, including Masters champion Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood.
On Court No 1, world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka has won the first set 6-1 against the USA’s McCartney Kessler.
Serena Williams left the All England Club ‘unaided’ despite knee injury
It was earlier reported that Serena Williams was “not able” to undertake her media duties and the All England Club did not penalise the seven-time Wimbledon champion for not attending, instead issuing a quote from the player.
“It was really great to be back at Wimbledon,” Williams said in a statement. “I never expected to be here. The atmosphere was amazing. Walking out was amazing. I definitely relished it and missed it and enjoyed the moment more than anything.
Williams is slated to return either Thursday or Friday alongside older sister Venus, with whom she won 14 grand slam doubles titles including six at Wimbledon, most recently in 2016.
Her most recent singles appearance came in 2022, when she lost in the first round to Harmony Tan, before her last competitive outing at the US Open, where she reached the third round before a loss to Ajla Tomljanovic – who Joint asked for advice before facing the American this week.
Williams only played two doubles matches, at Queen’s and in Berlin, before making her singles comeback at SW19.
Serena Williams ‘tweaked her knee’ in singles defeat to Maya Joint
Jill Smoller, the agent of Serena Williams, said: “Serena tweaked her knee at the end of the first set and was therefore excused from her media obligations by the Wimbledon and WTA medical teams. She left site that night unaided and is doing everything she can to be ready for her doubles match later this week.”
BREAKING: Serena Williams’ Wimbledon doubles comeback in doubt after injury scare
Serena Williams’ doubles comeback at Wimbledon is in doubt after she sustained a knee injury during her first competitive singles match in four years.
The 44-year-old lost a thrilling encounter with 20-year-old Maya Joint 6-3 6-7 6-3 late on Tuesday night on Centre Court, putting up a valiant fight before fading in the third set.
The nearly two-and-a-half hour match, which ended at 10pm local time, brought an early end to a much-anticipated singles comeback at the grand slam where she won seven of her 23 major titles.
She did not take part in the obligatory post-match press conference and The Times reported that that was due to her picking up a knee issue during the match, which required lengthy treatment from the physio.
Grand slam champions move through the draw
Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka has made serene progress to the third round, winning 6-3 6-2 against Russian Anastasia Gasanova.
And former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko has seen off Antonia Ruzic 6-2 6-0.
If those two win their third round-encounters they’ll face off in the fourth round – what a match that would be!
Evans out of Wimbledon for last time
Evans acknowledges the crowd and takes a moment on his chair to absorb the enormity of the moment, fighting back tears.
Elsewhere, another couple of British men’s doubles players are out:
Ben Jones and Joshua Paris lost 6-4 6-3 to fourth seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, while Luke Johnson and Polish partner Jan Zielinski lost to Jakub Paul and Ryan Seggerman 6-4 6-4.
Evans out of Wimbledon for last time
Not too be on the second match point, however, and that brings an end to Dan Evans’ and Henry Searle’s doubles campaign, as well as Evans’ career.
He still has a smile on his face though as the players shake hands and he waves in acknowledgement to the crowd, who give them a standing ovation.
