Only a handful of unseeded players remain in both draws as we enter the second week of play in London

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Jul 5, 2026

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The Williams sisters’ return to competitive tennis as a duo was over before it started.

In their first Grand Slam doubles competition together in nearly four years, Serena, 44, and Venus, 46, were forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after Serena injured a knee.

Serena was injured during her singles return earlier in the week in a three-set loss.

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Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States during their women’s doubles match at Arthur Ashe Stadium against Lucie Hradecká and Linda Nosková of the Czech Republic during the U.S. Open at the USTA National Tennis Centre Sept. 1, 2022 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside @venuswilliams once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete,” Serena said in an Instagram post.

The post included images of four syringes that Serena said “shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match.” An accompanying video showed her walking with strapping up and down her right leg and what appeared to be one of her daughters holding a cane for her.

However, with the U.S. Open approaching, Serena indicated she could play again somewhere else soon.

“All I can say,” Serena said, “is stay tuned to a city near you.”

Serena Williams, left, meets her sister Venus Williams after their match during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, in Flushing, N.Y., Aug. 31, 2018. ( )

RORY MCILROY TURNS HEADS AT WIMBLEDON BY SPORTING HIS MASTERS GREEN JACKET AT CENTER COURT

The Williams sisters were scheduled to play Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra. It was the only first-round doubles match that wasn’t scheduled earlier in the week, having been pushed back to give Serena more time to recover.

Serena was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia on Tuesday in her return.

The Williams sisters are six-time champions as partners in women’s doubles at Wimbledon. It was the first time they teamed up at Wimbledon since winning it in 2016. It was also the first time they had teamed up since the 2022 U.S. Open, which they lost in the first round.

Serena Williams and Venus Williams during their women’s doubles match at Arthur Ashe Stadium against Lucie Hradecká and Linda Nosková of the Czech Republic during the U.S. Open at the USTA National Tennis Centre Sept. 1, 2022 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

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Together, they have 14 grand slam titles and three Olympic gold medals as a team and never lost a final.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ireland got their Nations Championship off to a winning start with a 33-31 victory over Australia this morning.

Played at a sell-out Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Andy Farrell’s men got the better of the Joe Schmidt-coached Wallabies as the sides produced a 10-try thriller.

Wallabies had half-time lead

With Ireland having problems in both the pack and the lineout, they were lucky to find themselves just five points behind at the half-way stage of the game.

Joe Schmidt’s side had opening half tries from Dylan Pietsch, Jock Campbell, Josh Canham and Ryan Lonergan.

The visitors had scored five pointers through Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier and a crucial try from Jamison Gibson-Park just before the interval – which ultimately kept Ireland within touching distance of the Wallabies, who at that stage were very much in the ascendency.

Clarkson try give Ireland win

Man of the match Hugo Keenan crossed for an Irish try in the second half, with Tate McDermott doing likewise for the hosts.

The TMO disallowed a Dan Sheehan effort as James Ryan was adjudged to have been ahead of the player in possession.

Ireland prop Tom Clarkson scored his second international try to put the men in green ahead on 77 minutes.

Australian replacement fly-half Ben Donaldson had an opportunity to snatch a victory for the home side when Bundee Aki was penalised with the clock in red.

The long range penalty attempt from Donaldson went to the right of the posts and wide to see Ireland claim an opening day success in the inaugural Nations Championship.

FARRELL: “THAT WAS A HELL OF A GAME” 🏉

Andy Farrell reacts after Ireland’s 33-31 win over Australia, praising the big moments, the fight after the break and Hugo Keenan’s huge tackle.

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One of the Premier League’s most gripping personal feuds goes global on Sunday when Brazil face Norway in the World Cup last 16.

Norway’s irresistible force of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland comes up against Brazil’s immovable object in the shape of Arsenal defender Gabriel in New York New Jersey Stadium.

Haaland and Gabriel have been central figures as their clubs battle for domestic supremacy, creating a rivalry that regularly boils over into animosity.

The outcome of their latest confrontation will go a long way to deciding whether it is Brazil or Norway who advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face either England or Mexico.

Former England striker Chris Sutton told BBC Sport: “For all the battling for the Golden Boot between the greats such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Haaland, there have not been any great personal duels. Now we have one.

“This is the standout personal duel of the World Cup so far and make no mistake, it will have a huge bearing on the outcome of the game.

“It is the standout because of the bad feeling we know exists between the pair. I am sure there is a level of respect great players have for each other, but everything we’ve seen between them suggests they don’t like each other too much.”

Former England captain Alan Shearer is also relishing the confrontation between the pair, saying: “That will be a great battle because there is definitely a bit of niggle there.

“They don’t like each other which is fine, you don’t have to like your opponent, and we have seen them have clashes before so that’s definitely one to look forward to.”

Adding further intrigue is the statistical quirk that five-time world champions Brazil have never beaten Norway in four attempts – drawing two and losing two.

This makes Norway the only side the Selecao have faced, but never won against.

India all-rounder Axar Patel was among the few positives as he impressed with the ball during the side’s loss to England in the second T20I of the five-match series. The contest was played on Saturday, July 4 at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester.

Opting to bat first, the Men in Blue finished on 190/7, with Ishan Kishan top-scoring with 49 off 40 balls, while Abhishek Sharma (43 off 24), Shreyas Iyer (37 off 22), and Tilak Varma (24* off 11) chipped in with valuable contributions.

In response, England lost Phil Salt and Jos Buttler for ducks in the opening over. However, Harry Brook counterattacked with 39 off 15 balls. Meanwhile, it was Jacob Bethell who steered the side to victory, remaining unbeaten on 76 off 46 balls, hitting five fours and as many sixes as the hosts won by four wickets with an over remaining.

For the Men in Blue, Arshdeep Singh picked 3/40 in his four overs, while Axar Patel was brilliant, taking the wicket of Brook and conceding just 20 runs. His lone wicket in the game was also his 100th scalp in the format. On that note, here we look at all the Indian bowlers who have taken 100 T20I wickets.

#1 Arshdeep Singh

Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh became the first Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in T20Is. He achieved the milestone during the Asia Cup 2025 clash against Oman on September 19. Playing his 64th match, he dismissed Vinayak Shukla to complete the landmark.

He has since remained the leading wicket-taker for India in the format. The 27-year-old has played 88 matches, claiming 134 wickets at an average of 19.44, a strike rate of 13.6, and an economy of 8.53, with best figures of 5/51.

#2 Jasprit Bumrah

The second cricketer from the nation to achieve the milestone was ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah. The right-arm pacer reached the landmark in his 81st game in the format, which came against South Africa on December 9, 2025, when he dismissed Dewald Brevis.

The 32-year-old has so far played 95 matches in the format, picking up 121 wickets at an average of 18.08, a strike rate of 16.6, and an economy of 6.51, with best figures of 4/15 coming against New Zealand in March 2026 in Ahmedabad.

#3 Hardik Pandya

Premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya reached the milestone of 100 T20I wickets against South Africa on December 14, 2025, in Dharamshala, when he dismissed Tristan Stubbs.

Hardik has played 138 matches in the format, claiming 114 wickets at an average of 27.13, a strike rate of 19.5, and an economy of 8.34. Additionally, the middle-order batter has amassed 2,288 runs, including nine fifties.

#4 Axar Patel

The latest addition to the list is Axar Patel, who made history by becoming the first Indian spinner to claim 100 T20I wickets. He achieved the feat in the match against England in Manchester on July 4 by dismissing England skipper Harry Brook.

In 98 matches, Axar has now 100 wickets for India at an average of 21.59, a strike rate of 17.5, and an economy of 7.37, with best figures of 3/9. The southpaw also has 736 runs to his credit in 61 innings, including a solitary fifty.