American five-time Wimbledon women’s doubles champions Serena and Venus Williams pulled out of this year’s tournament on Tuesday, the All England Club said in a statement.
No reason was given for the withdrawal of the 12th seeded Williams sisters, who won the women’s doubles title in 2000, 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2012.
They were forced to retire mid-match last year with Serena suffering from a viral illness. World No 1 Serena is bidding for a sixth Wimbledon singles title and could meet Venus, who has also won the title five times, in the last 16.
They have been replaced in the draw by lucky losers from qualifying Misaki Doi of Japan and Stephanie Vogt from Liechtenstein.
Heat not on so much
Seven-time champion Roger Federer cannot see any need for a heat rule to be implemented at Wimbledon.
“In Australia, we’ve had some moments. But here, in Europe, seriously, on clay, grass, problems never come,” Federer said.
“(When) we have concrete underneath, on the side of you, the sun beating down, it gets rough. That’s why the Australian Open has almost done the rule, I want to say more for the fans I feel like almost, and the officials and the ballboys and the linesmen and spectators rather than us. We can play through these kind of conditions because we’re used to it.”
Three ‘double bagels’
Germany’s Angelique Kerber handed out the third 6-0, 6-0 thrashing so far at Wimbledon when she sent compatriot Carina Witthoeft packing.
Five-time champion Venus Williams and Andrea Petkovic had clocked up the so-called “double bagel” on the opening day of the tournament, against Americans Madison Brengle and Shelby Rogers respectively.
Tsonga stands up
An abdomen injury that scuppered Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s Wimbledon warm-up plans stood up to the test of a five-set battle as he reached the second round with a nerve-jangling 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win over Gilles Muller.
The French 13th seed, who was a no-show at Den Bosch, Halle and Nottingham, traded shots for almost four hours in sweltering conditions. For Tsonga, the hottest day of the year in London at 30° Celsius was the least of his worries.
“It was not too humid, was OK for me,” said Tsonga, twice a semi-finalist at the All-England Club.
“In Australia we play in 42° on court. We will see if it’s going to be 42. But for the moment, it’s not, we can play tennis.”
No edge for Edmund
Kyle Edmund’s wait to break into the world’s top 100 goes on after the young Briton departed Wimbledon, with Alexandr Dolgopolov victorious 7-6, 6-1, 6-2.
World No 101 Edmund was just unable to edge his ranking to double figures after reaching the second round at the French Open.
Edmund, 20, would have achieved that by reaching the second round at Wimbledon, but was unable to overcome his Ukrainian opponent.
Edmund’s third first-round defeat in a row at Wimbledon leaves him still waiting for that first senior victory at London’s grand slam tournament.
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