In a dramatic opening‑round encounter at the US Open, the iconic Williams sisters—Serena and Venus—were knocked out of the women's doubles draw by the youthful pairing of Maya Joint and Chan Hao‑Ching. The match stretched to three sets and lasted just over three hours, ending in a heartbreaking 6-3, 6-7 (8-6), 7-6 (10-7) loss for the veteran duo. From the first serve, the Williams sisters displayed the tenacity that has defined their careers, clawing back after dropping the opening set to force a second‑set tiebreak.
Their resilience paid off when they finally broke through in the tiebreak, converting a crucial fifth‑point opportunity after Joint’s overhead drifted long. The momentum shift seemed to signal a possible comeback, and the sisters pushed the contest into a decisive third set—something they had not needed to do since 2001 when they last found themselves tied at 5-5 in a final set. The third set was a roller‑coaster of emotions.
After a tightly contested battle of service games, the match again reached a tiebreak. At this juncture, the Williams sisters appeared to have the upper hand, even building a 5-0 lead in the breaker. However, Joint and Chan rallied spectacularly, erasing the deficit and ultimately sealing the set 10-7.
The loss marked the end of the Williams sisters' first Grand Slam partnership since their 2022 US Open appearance, a partnership that began 27 years earlier when they first captured the title together. The significance of the match extended beyond the scoreboard. The Williams sisters carry a combined legacy of 14 Grand Slam doubles crowns, two US Open titles as a pair, three Olympic gold medals, and an additional 30 Grand Slam singles titles between them. Their presence on the court still draws massive crowds; the Arthur Ashe Stadium was packed with roughly 23,000 fans who cheered every point, underscoring the enduring appeal of the sisters despite their ages of 44 and 46.
For 20‑year‑old Australian Maya Joint, the night was a personal milestone. Earlier in the tournament, she had upset Serena on Centre Court at Wimbledon, and now she faced the legend again on the biggest stage in American tennis. Joint described the experience as "super special" and admitted she was "lost for words" to play against her idols, having grown up watching the Williams sisters from Michigan. Her admiration was evident, yet she managed to channel it into a performance that earned her a place in the record books.
The match also sparked speculation about Serena's future. ESPN analyst Caroline Wozniacki suggested that Serena may be planning a return to singles competition next year, a notion that adds intrigue to the sisters' already storied careers.
Even with a combined age of 90, the Williams sisters demonstrated flashes of their former dominance, with Venus delivering a penetrating volley that Serena turned into a winner, prompting the crowd to rise to their feet. Nevertheless, two service breaks against Serena—who had looked sharp in her recent Wimbledon showing and mixed‑doubles partnership with Carlos Alcaraz—proved costly. The breakage in the first set set the tone, and despite a valiant effort in the second and third sets, the sisters could not close out the match.
The US Tennis Association confirmed that the sisters would not be available for comment following the defeat. The day’s action was not limited to the women's doubles. In the men's draw, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas rebounded from a first‑set loss to defeat 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, beating Valentin Vacherot of Monaco in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Later, Ben Shelton, a 2023 US Open semifinalist, secured a place in the next round by overcoming Denis Shapovalov in four sets.
Although Shelton committed several unforced errors, he managed to win 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted three hours and 23 minutes, even unleashing a 147‑mph serve at one point. The 23‑year‑old now awaits a showdown with Tsitsipas on Sunday. The tournament continues to attract global attention, with live coverage on Sky Sports beginning August 30.
Fans can stream matches without a contract via NOW or the Sky Sports App, and the Laver Cup will be broadcast from The O2 in London later in September. The Williams sisters' early exit adds a new chapter to the US Open narrative, reminding spectators that even the most legendary athletes can face unexpected challenges, and that the next generation of talent is ready to seize its moment on tennis's biggest stages.