Tennis

Before this sweet girl decked out in flowers turned into a professional athlete, she was just playing tennis at 5 years old, and moved to Florida as a pre-teen to take her skills to the next level ...

At the 2014 Wimbledon Championships, she became the first Canadian player to reach a major singles final, where she finished runner-up to Petra Kvitová.

She also plays pickleball!

Serena Williams has called off her tennis comeback, at least for now ... because she pulled out of her doubles match at Wimbledon citing a knee issue.

The tennis legend posted about her withdrawal on Saturday ... writing she's heartbroken to turn her back on the doubles -- calling the return to competition a "gift."

She says she really wanted to play alongside her sister, Venus Williams, and did everything she could to be ready ... but unfortunately her knee simply isn't there yet.

Serena Williams' on-court reunion with Venus is at risk ... as the tennis superstar tweaked her right knee during her Wimbledon singles match on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old suffered the injury in the first set of her opening-round loss to Maya Joint at the All England Club, her agent Jill Smoller announced ... adding that's why Williams didn't speak with reporters after the match.

"Serena tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set and was therefore excused from her media obligations by the Wimbledon and WTA medical teams," Smoller said.

Serena Williams' big Wimbledon comeback came up short on Tuesday -- as the tennis superstar was defeated in the first round of the singles tournament.

The 44-year-old took center court at the All England Club for the first time in four years ... facing off against Maya Joint in a three-set thriller.

After losing the first set 6-3, Serena fought her way back into it by winning a tiebreaker in the second ... but the 20-year-old Australian pro answered with another 6-3 effort to advance and end Williams' singles campaign.

Chris Evert says she underwent surgery and will begin chemotherapy shortly after a scan showed her ovarian cancer returned ... but the tennis legend is vowing once again to kick the disease's ass.

"I have always believed in being open and honest about my health journey. This past weekend, after undergoing CT and PET scans, I learned that my ovarian cancer has returned," the 71-year-old wrote.

"I have already undergone surgery as the first step in my treatment and recovery, and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks."

Serena Williams is fully back in the tennis fold ... not only is she playing doubles at Wimbledon with her sister Venus -- she's looking to add to her singles trophy case too.

Tournament officials announced Sunday Serena will play solo at the event after receiving a wild card entry.

Serena's immersed herself back into tennis over the last month ... playing doubles matches at the HSBC Championships tournament in England and then the Berlin Open.

If ya thought Serena Williams' tennis comeback was cool, she's taking it one step further -- teaming up with her sister, Venus, to play doubles at Wimbledon!!

The news dropped on Tuesday ... with the org. stating Serena, 44, and Venus, 45, have accepted wild card invitations for the iconic tournament at the end of the month.

It's only right they reunite on the grass at the All England Club, as they've won six of their 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together there ... not to mention the handful of singles titles they've secured as well.

Serena Williams' big return to tennis had a lackluster ending ... with the legend being forced to exit the HSBC Championships tournament due to her partner's injury.

44-year-old Williams and Victoria Mboko's journey at the Queen's Club was off to a hot start -- they won in straight sets earlier in the week ... but the 19-year-old suffered a knee ailment in a singles match the next day, which was too much to overcome.

Mboko, 19, had to withdraw from that contest ... and on Thursday morning, the tournament confirmed her doubles match is off, too.

Serena Williams returned to the tennis court after nearly four years away ... and even at 44 years old, the G.O.A.T. didn't miss a beat, winning in straight sets!

In her first competitive match since the 2022 US Open -- over 1,350 days ago -- Serena, along with her doubles partner, 19-year-old Victoria Mboko, upset the number 3-seeded team of Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe at the HSBC Championship at the Queen's Club in London.

Serena received a huge ovation as she walked onto the grass court. Williams and Mboko, unseeded, weren't even pushed, winning in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.

Serena Williams' retirement from tennis didn't last long -- the 39-time Grand Slam winner in singles and doubles just announced she's coming back.

The 44-year-old superstar dropped the news via a Nike ad ... which shows her on the court as her phone blows up with calls and texts.

As she reaches for her phone, the words "Guess everybody heard the news" appear on the screen ... and then Williams says, "I gotta change my number."

Tennis player Rafael Jodar is firing back at controversy after a viral clip from his French Open match sparked debate over whether he shoved a ball girl during a chaotic courtside moment.

The Spanish teenager was in the middle of his third-round battle against American Alex Michelsen when footage began circulating online showing him walking after tossing his water bottle up to his dad in the stands, as a ball girl crossed in front of him between sets.

In the viral clip, the ball girl appears to momentarily lose her balance before quickly regaining it, leading to a wave of speculation on social media about what actually happened ... however, Jodar was quick to dismiss the suggestion that any contact took place, insisting the situation had been misunderstood.

Arthur Gea had more than his opponent to worry about at the French Open over the weekend ... because the dude suffered a full-blown bathroom emergency in the middle of his match and had to sprint off the court ASAP.

The French tennis star was making his French Open debut against Karen Khachanov Sunday when he suddenly stopped playing and pleaded with the chair umpire for an emergency bathroom break.

"I need to go to the bathroom. I can't move anymore," Gea said before rushing off court. At one point, he even warned ... "I'm going to (go) on the court."

If you thought preparing to compete against some of the greatest tennis players alive was tough, try planning the world's biggest night in fashion!!

Venus Williams was co-chair for the 2026 Met Gala alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour ... and she aced the gig, all while looking like royalty.

But the work behind the scenes that folks don't get to see was no joke ... and Williams told TMZ Sports it's unlike anything she experienced on the court.

Former tennis star and Playboy model Ashley Harkleroad is breaking her silence on her marriage ending after 16 years ... telling TMZ Sports she's finally getting what she deserves -- freedom.

The 40-year-old athlete released a statement to us after we broke the news of her husband, Chuck Adams, filing for separation earlier this month ... and it's safe to say she's found her silver lining.

“I got married when I was 19 years old, I’ve spent the majority of my life listening to men, obeying them, my dad, my coach who was also my husband, and although he is an incredible father and life long friend it’s time for me to live my life on my own terms," Harkleroad told us.

Former tennis pro Ashley Harkleroad -- who famously got naked for Playboy -- is looking for a new doubles partner ... 'cause her husband filed for separation of marriage, TMZ Sports has learned.

Court records show fellow tennis professional Chuck Adams submitted the docs on April 14 ... citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason behind the split.

According to the docs, Adams is seeking joint custody of their two minor kids -- ages 17 and 15 -- with physical custody going to Harkleroad and Adams getting visitation.