Venus Williams did not attend the press conference after losing in the mixed doubles match at Wimbledon. The renowned American player, who has won the singles title at SW19 five times, partnered with doubles specialist Kevin Krawietz for the event. The wildcard duo faced a 6-4, 6-4 defeat against the No. 7 seeded pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Tereza Mihalikova on Court 14, where fans were eager to see the 46-year-old Venus in action.
Despite being requested to attend the media session, Venus opted not to appear or provide any comments through the WTA or the All England Club. Consequently, she could face a fine of up to £37,000 ($50,000) as per the Grand Slam regulations. The rule stipulates that players must participate in post-match media interviews unless there are valid reasons such as illness or injury.
Earlier in the week, Venus’s sister Serena received backlash for skipping post-match media obligations after her singles loss. Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, did share a statement expressing her joy at returning to Wimbledon, highlighting the incredible atmosphere and her appreciation for the experience.
It was later revealed that Serena suffered a knee injury during her match, which exempted her from media duties. Her agent confirmed the injury, stating that Serena was excused by the Wimbledon and WTA medical teams and was focusing on recovery for her upcoming doubles match.
The Williams sisters were expected to team up in the doubles event, but Serena’s knee injury raised doubts about their participation. While the tournament schedule initially set their match against Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra for Saturday, the specific timing and court allocation were pending confirmation.
Tournament officials expressed flexibility in accommodating Serena’s condition to ensure fair competition. The possibility of rescheduling matches due to unforeseen circumstances like weather, injuries, or player conflicts was acknowledged, emphasizing the priority of player safety and tournament completion.