Williams sisters US Open exit in third-set tie-break
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The gist
Serena and Venus Williams lost 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(10-7) to Chan and Joint in US Open first.
The 44- and 46-year-old sisters' comeback ended in a tiebreak, marking their first Grand.
Background
The Williams sisters, who have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, returned to the US Open for the first time since 2022. Serena, 44, came back to tennis this year after a long layoff, while Venus, 46, has continued playing. They had little recent doubles form, having lost in Cincinnati in August. Their match against 14th seeds Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint was their first Grand Slam as a pair since 2022.
How it unfolded
- Aug 2026The Williams sisters played their first doubles match together in four years at the Cincinnati Open, losing to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in a super tiebreak.
- Aug 31, 2026Venus Williams lost in the first round of US Open singles to Sofia Kenin in straight sets, extending her losing streak.
- Sep 4, 2026Serena and Venus Williams faced Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint in the first round of US Open women's doubles. They lost in a match tiebreaker 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(10-7) after holding a 5-0 lead in the decisive tiebreak.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Joint and Chan, the 14th seeds, weathered the hostile atmosphere and sealed victory in just over three hours.
- Public
- Fans on social media celebrated the sisters' return, calling them 'legends' and noting their ages of 44 and 46.
- Analysts
- Commentators noted the sisters showed grit but lacked the form that won them two US Open doubles titles, with age and Serena's layoff factors.
Still unverified
The Williams sisters reportedly declined to speak with reporters after the match.