After retiring at Wimbledon from her doubles match with sister Venus Williams, Serena Williams is now doing well and will be returning to the court to defend her Swedish Open title on July 14. Tournament director Nina Wennerstrom confirmed Williams’ participation through an email sent to ESPN.

Before retiring from last Wednesday’s game, Williams looked disoriented and had trouble catching tennis balls from the ball girls. Williams withdrew from the game because of a viral illness. In a statement Williams said, “I am heartbroken I’m not able to continue in the tournament. I thought I could rally this morning, because I really wanted to compete, but this bug just got the best of me.”

Ill Serena Williams quits doubles match after 3 games: http://t.co/MMsQIOZxaf pic.twitter.com/i9udoDujfu

— WashTimesSports (@WashTimesSports) July 1, 2014

On Friday, the 32-year-old tennis star posted a picture of herself on Instagram where she was lying under a blanket. According to her agent Jill Smoller, she is now getting better.

Amidst the rumors surrounding Williams’ withdrawal, nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova expressed her own opinion about the incident. “I find it distressing. I think virus, whatever they’re saying it was, I don’t think that was it. I think it’s clear that’s not the case. I don’t know what it is, but I hope Serena will be OK,” she told ESPNW in an interview.

When the incident happened, Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou said that he had not seen Williams for two days. “How can you be a coach and not know anything? That’s wrong,” continued Navratilova.

Whatever the reason for Williams’ withdrawal, Navratilova is sure that a virus was not the cause.

Former No. 1 Andy Roddick, who is a close friend of Williams, texted the tennis champ after hearing of the incident. On his Fox Sports Radio show, he read her reply: “Andy, I’m just not well.”

Whether her withdrawal was from a viral illness or something else, Williams seems to be doing well enough to play tennis again.

 Image via YouTube