Serena and Venus Williams suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the opening round of the US Open women’s doubles, falling to the pairing of Maya Joint and Chan Hao‑Ching after a marathon three‑hour‑two‑minute battle. The match unfolded as a roller‑coaster, with the veteran sisters clawing back to force a third‑set tiebreak after surrendering a 5‑0 lead in the decisive breaker, ultimately succumbing 6‑3, 6‑7 (8‑6), 7‑6 (10‑7).
This encounter marked the Williams sisters’ first Grand Slam appearance together since they last teamed up at the 2022 US Open, a reunion that came 27 years after their inaugural doubles triumph at the same venue. The weight of history was palpable; together they have amassed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, two US Open crowns, three Olympic gold medals, and an additional 30 Grand Slam singles crowns between them.
Serena even noted that the decision to push for a comeback in the third set was inspired by a suggestion from her daughter, underscoring the personal stakes involved. For Maya Joint, the 20‑year‑old Australian prodigy, the victory was a milestone in a remarkable summer. Earlier in the tournament she had upset Serena on Centre Court in the women’s singles at Wimbledon, and now she found herself facing the legends in front of a roaring crowd of roughly 23,000 spectators at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"Playing against such icons is incredibly special," Joint said after the match. "I’m literally speechless. Both sisters are my idols. Growing up in Michigan, I always looked up to them.
To meet them twice on the biggest stage is a dream come true." The atmosphere in the packed stadium reflected the reverence for the Williams sisters, whose wild‑card entries were greeted with thunderous applause each time they stepped onto the court. Despite their combined age of 90 years, the sisters displayed flashes of their former dominance, with Venus unleashing a penetrating volley that Serena answered with a powerful winner, prompting the entire arena to rise to its feet. However, the first set slipped away after two service breaks against Serena, whose serve had been in good form at Wimbledon and during her mixed‑doubles partnership with Carlos Alcaraz the previous week.
The Williams duo rallied in the second set, converting a crucial fifth‑set point when Joint’s overhead drifted long, and forced a tiebreak that they won, leveling the match. The deciding set proved to be a historic moment, as it was the first time the pair had reached 5‑5 in a third set since 2001. Yet, the momentum faltered; a series of unforced errors and a decisive volley from Chan sealed the comeback for the younger team.
The US Tennis Association confirmed that the sisters would not be available for comment following the loss. In other news from the tournament, Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas rebounded from a first‑set deficit to defeat the 18th‑seeded Czech Jiri Lehecka 2‑6, 6‑1, 7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑1, advancing to the fourth round for the first time in his career. American 11th seed Frances Tiafoe also progressed, dispatching Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot 6‑4, 6‑2, 6‑4. Meanwhile, 2023 US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton set up a high‑profile clash with Tsitsipas after a four‑set victory over Denis Shapovalov.
Shelton, despite a string of unforced errors, secured a 7‑6 (3), 6‑7 (5), 6‑3, 6‑4 win in a three‑hour‑23‑minute encounter, even delivering a blistering 147 mph serve down the middle. The 23‑year‑old will meet the Greek on Sunday. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the Laver Cup will be shown from the O2 in London between September 25‑27.
The tournament remains a showcase of both seasoned legends and rising talents, offering fans a blend of nostalgia and fresh excitement as the competition progresses.