Serena Williams out of Eastborne tournament doubles due to partner Ons Jabeur’s injury

Serena Williams

Serena Williams's Wimbledon preparations suffered a blow after doubles partner Ons Jabeur withdrew from the Eastbourne tournament because of a knee injury on Thursday.

Williams had returned to tennis at Eastbourne after 12 months away, playing her first two competitive matches since she limped out of last year's Wimbledon in tears with a leg injury. The 40-year-old American and Tunisian partner Jabeur made it through to the Eastbourne semi-finals with wins over Maria Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo in the Last 16 and Shuko Aoyama and Chan Hao-ching in the quarter-finals. But Jabeur's injury deprives Serena of the chance to hone further her grass-court game ahead of the start of Wimbledon on Monday.

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Before Williams made the surprise announcement of her return last week, rumours of retirement had swirled around her for several months. But Williams has accepted a wild card into the women's singles at Wimbledon as she bids to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles. She will find out who she faces in the first round when the draw is made on Friday.

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