Eastbourne, UK - Serena Williams’ big return to tennis is ending early after doubles partner Ons Jabeur had to withdraw from the Eastbourne tennis tournament because of a knee injury.

Williams played her first two competitive matches at the Rothesay International since limping out of Wimbledon in tears last summer with a hamstring problem.

Williams and Tunisian Jabeur made it through to the semi-finals with a narrow victory over Maria Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo, and then a more convincing one against Shuko Aoyama and Chan Hao-ching.

But the all-time great will now turn her attention to a much greater test at Wimbledon, where she has taken a wild card into the women’s singles as she continues her pursuit of a record-equalling 24th grand slam title.

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She is unseeded and will find out who she faces in the first round when the draw is made on Friday morning.

Speaking after Wednesday’s match, Williams said: "I feel good. As good as one can feel after having such a long time off. I was telling Ons, this was a really good match and the second set in particular, they played really well, but we were able to just play different circumstances."

"It was actually good match play and match practice, which is exactly what I needed and what I wanted to do coming here, so I couldn’t have asked for more."