Venus Williams and Hailey Baptiste interact during a women’s doubles match. File picture
| Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP
Venus Williams will not play in the women’s doubles at the French Open alongside Hailey Baptiste. They withdrew on Thursday (May 28, 2026) and no reason was given by organisers.
But Baptiste was forced to retire during her second-round singles against Wang Xiyu on Wednesday (May 27) after landing awkwardly on her left leg late in the first set.
The Americans were replaced by Eudice Chong and Veronika Rejvec in the draw.
Williams, who turns 46 next month, was a singles wild-card entry at the Australian Open. She lost in the first round and became the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open singles main draw.
A seven-time major singles winner, Williams previously held the No. 1 ranking in singles and doubles.
Williams lost the French Open singles final to younger sister Serena in 2002 and they twice won the French Open doubles together, in 1999 and 2010.
Published – May 28, 2026 07:12 pm IST
