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World No. 3 Ons Jabeur has a right knee injury as she and Serena Williams have pulled out of their Eastbourne doubles semifinal versus Aleksandra Krunic and Magda Linette. On Wednesday, Williams and Jabeur defeated Shuko Aoyama and Hao-Ching Chan 6-2 6-4.
Even though Williams and Jabeur's semifinal match was scheduled for Friday, the Tunisian pulled out on Thursday as she didn't want to risk aggravating her injury ahead of Wimbledon.
Williams, 40, and 27-year-old Jabeur were playing together for the first time this week. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, picked Eastbourne as her comeback destination and she decided to only play doubles in her first tournament back.Serena Williams' Eastbourne doubles campaign is over after her partner Ons Jabeur pulled out with a right knee injury.
Now on her way to Wimbledon to prepare for next week. — Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) June 23, 2022
When Williams decided where she wanted to return, she contacted Jabeur - who was absolutely stunned after the American offered her to play doubles together. Now, Williams and Jabeur will both head to Wimbledon.
Willams, Jabeur clinched two solid wins in Eastbourne
On Tuesday, Williams and Jabeur recovered from a set down to earn a hard-fought win over Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo 2-6 6-3 13-11.
A day later, Williams and Jabeur looked better as they defeated Aoyama and Chan in straight sets. "For me, it felt really good," Jabeur said after the match. "We played much better [than in the opening round]. I think we are getting used to each other now.
I am ready for more tournaments, to be honest with you." "Me too," Williams responded. Williams will be playing her first singles tournament in 12 months next week at Wimbldon. "I have had some really good training leading up to Wimbledon and up to this tournament, and really hitting the ball well and just working out, and it's been working," Williams said.
"It's just been connecting. I feel like I have been serving well so that's been really good. Working really hard on that."