Williams sisters bow out of doubles

LONDON, July 4 (UPI) -- Serena and Venus Williams withdrew from the women's doubles at Wimbledon Wednesday after Serena injured a thumb.

The Williams sisters were to play a match against the tandem of Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual, who advanced in a walkover.

Serena sustained her injury in a singles loss to top-seeded Justine Henin, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, while Venus landed in the quarterfinals by trouncing second-seeded Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-3.

Serena also was hampered by a gimpy left hamstring from an earlier match.

"Considering my circumstances, my leg and most of all having no backhand and no shot, I think I did pretty well," Serena said after her loss to Henin. "If I'd been healthy, I think I would have won."

The Williams sisters had decided in the past two weeks to compete in doubles.