Serena and Venus Williams Exit US Open Doubles After Thrilling First-Round Battle
The Serena Venus Williams US Open doubles comeback ended in heartbreaking fashion on Friday night as the legendary sisters suffered a narrow first-round defeat at Flushing Meadows.
Serena Williams and Venus Williams battled 14th seeds Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint for more than three hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium before losing 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(10-7) in a dramatic deciding match tiebreak.
Despite the defeat, the Williams sisters produced several flashes of the form and chemistry that made them one of the most successful doubles teams in tennis history.
Williams Sisters Make Grand Slam Doubles Return
The 2026 US Open marked the sisters’ first appearance together in women’s doubles at a Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open.
They entered the tournament as wild cards after receiving an invitation from the USTA. The sisters had previously won the US Open doubles title together in 1999 and 2009.
Their return generated enormous interest from tennis fans, particularly because Serena had only recently returned to competitive tennis after a lengthy absence.
The match was also played in the familiar surroundings of Arthur Ashe Stadium, adding to the emotional atmosphere surrounding their comeback.
Serena and Venus Fall to Chan and Joint
The Williams sisters faced a difficult opening-round opponent in Chan and Joint, who were seeded 14th in the women’s doubles draw.
Chan brought extensive doubles experience, while 20-year-old Maya Joint had already defeated Serena in singles at Wimbledon earlier in the 2026 season.
The match quickly developed into a competitive battle.
Chan and Joint took the opening set 6-3, putting the Williams sisters under pressure early.
However, Serena and Venus responded strongly in the second set and forced a tiebreak, eventually taking it 8-6 to level the match.
Dramatic Third-Set Match Tiebreak
The deciding set was ultimately settled by a match tiebreak rather than a traditional third set.
The Williams sisters appeared to have control after building a 5-0 lead in the decisive tiebreak.
But Chan and Joint refused to give up.
The younger team fought back and won 10 of the next 12 points, turning a seemingly comfortable Williams advantage into a dramatic comeback victory.
The final score in the deciding tiebreak was 10-7, sending Chan and Joint into the next round.
Arthur Ashe Stadium Crowd Gives Williams Sisters Huge Reception
The atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium reflected the importance of the occasion.
Thousands of fans gathered to watch Serena and Venus reunite at the US Open, with the sisters receiving a huge reception as they entered the court.
The match was more than an ordinary first-round doubles contest.
For many fans, it represented a chance to see one of tennis’ greatest partnerships compete together again on the biggest stage in New York.
The U.S. Open itself described the return as a highly anticipated moment, with the sisters wearing coordinated white outfits and walking onto a court where they had enjoyed some of their greatest successes.
Williams Sisters Have 14 Grand Slam Doubles Titles
Serena and Venus have won 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles together.
Their success includes two US Open championships, six Wimbledon titles, four Australian Open crowns and two French Open titles.
Their last Grand Slam doubles title came at Wimbledon in 2016.
The sisters’ return to the US Open therefore represented another chapter in one of the most decorated doubles partnerships in tennis history.
Serena’s Comeback Adds to the Story
The significance of the Serena Venus Williams US Open appearance was also connected to Serena’s return to competitive tennis.
Serena stepped back onto the professional tennis stage in 2026 after a four-year absence.
Her comeback included a singles appearance at Wimbledon, where she lost to Maya Joint in three sets and suffered a knee injury during the match. That injury forced her to withdraw from the planned Wimbledon doubles partnership with Venus.
The sisters later reunited at the Cincinnati Open before receiving their US Open doubles wild card.
Venus Williams Also Competed in Singles
Venus entered the 2026 US Open singles draw as well.
The 46-year-old faced Sofia Kenin in the opening round but lost 6-2, 7-6(6).
Her doubles appearance with Serena therefore became another major moment of her tournament and potentially one of the final Grand Slam doubles appearances of her career.
However, Venus has not publicly confirmed that she plans to retire.
Maya Joint Continues Strong Year Against Serena
For Maya Joint, the victory added another significant result against Serena Williams.
The Australian had already defeated Serena at Wimbledon earlier in the year.
Joint’s victory alongside Chan at the US Open means she has now been involved in two major wins over Serena during the 2026 season.
The 20-year-old had entered the US Open after a major improvement in form during the North American hard-court swing.
Her performance against the Williams sisters showed composure under enormous pressure, particularly after falling behind 5-0 in the deciding tiebreak.
A Comeback That Nearly Became a Victory
The Williams sisters’ defeat was particularly painful because they were within touching distance of victory.
After losing the first set, Serena and Venus fought back to take the second and then established a commanding lead in the deciding tiebreak.
At 5-0 ahead, the sisters looked poised to complete an extraordinary comeback.
Instead, Chan and Joint produced a remarkable turnaround.
The final two points completed a three-set thriller that lasted more than three hours and ended the Williams sisters’ latest Grand Slam doubles campaign.
What the Loss Means for Serena and Venus
The first-round defeat means the Williams sisters will not continue in the 2026 US Open women’s doubles draw.
It also leaves questions about when fans might next see the sisters competing together.
They have already reunited at Cincinnati and New York this year, while their planned Wimbledon doubles appearance was cancelled following Serena’s knee injury.
For now, there is no confirmed announcement that the US Open match was their final appearance together.
The Williams Legacy Remains Unmatched
Regardless of the result, the Williams sisters’ return created another memorable chapter in their extraordinary tennis careers.
Their doubles partnership has produced 14 Grand Slam championships, two Olympic gold medals and countless memorable moments.
Even in defeat, their US Open return attracted a packed stadium and worldwide attention.
The three-hour battle also showed that the sisters could still produce competitive tennis against a seeded Grand Slam doubles team.
Key Takeaway
The Serena Venus Williams US Open doubles comeback ended with a dramatic first-round defeat against 14th seeds Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint.
The Williams sisters lost 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(10-7) after leading 5-0 in the deciding match tiebreak.
Although they failed to advance, their return to Arthur Ashe Stadium became one of the most emotional moments of the 2026 US Open so far.
With 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, Serena and Venus remain one of the most successful partnerships in tennis history, and their latest appearance once again demonstrated the lasting impact of the Williams sisters on the sport.
FAQs
1. What happened to Serena and Venus Williams at the US Open?
Serena and Venus Williams lost their first-round women’s doubles match to Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint.
2. What was the score of the Williams sisters’ match?
Chan and Joint defeated Serena and Venus 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(10-7).
3. Who defeated Serena and Venus Williams?
Hao-Ching Chan of Chinese Taipei and Australian Maya Joint defeated the Williams sisters in the first round.
4. Did Serena and Venus lead in the deciding tiebreak?
Yes. The Williams sisters led 5-0 in the deciding match tiebreak before Chan and Joint came back to win 10-7.
5. When did Serena and Venus last play together at the US Open?
The sisters’ previous US Open doubles appearance was in 2022.
6. How many Grand Slam doubles titles have Serena and Venus won?
Serena and Venus Williams have won 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles together.
7. How many US Open doubles titles have Serena and Venus won?
The sisters have won the US Open women’s doubles title twice, in 1999 and 2009.
8. Why was this US Open appearance significant?
It was their first US Open doubles appearance together since 2022 and came during Serena’s 2026 comeback to competitive tennis.
9. Who is Maya Joint?
Maya Joint is a 20-year-old Australian tennis player who teamed with Hao-Ching Chan in the 2026 US Open women’s doubles draw.
10. Will Serena and Venus play doubles together again?
There has been no confirmed announcement that this was their final match together. Their future doubles appearances remain uncertain.
