Serena and Venus Williams experienced a painful exit in the opening round of the US Open women's doubles, falling to the young pairing of Maya Joint and Chan Hao-Ching after a marathon three‑hour, two‑minute battle. The match unfolded as a dramatic seesaw, with the veteran sisters clawing back to force a deciding set tie‑break, only to surrender a commanding 5‑0 advantage and ultimately lose 6-3, 6-7 (8-6), 7-6 (10-7). This encounter marked the first Grand Slam tournament the Williams sisters had entered together since their memorable run at the 2022 US Open, and it arrived 27 years after they first captured the doubles crown at Flushing Meadows. Their partnership has produced an astonishing résumé: 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, two US Open victories, three Olympic gold medals, and a combined total of more than 30 Grand Slam singles crowns.
The weight of that legacy was evident in every point, and Serena even disclosed that the decision to push for a comeback in the third set was inspired by advice from her daughter. For Maya Joint, the night was a personal triumph. The 20‑year‑old Australian had already etched her name into the tournament’s narrative by defeating Serena on Centre Court earlier in the week at Wimbledon.
Facing the Williams sisters in front of a roaring crowd of roughly 23,000 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, she described the experience as "super special" and admitted she was "lost for words" to be playing against her idols. Growing up in Michigan, Joint had idolized the sisters, and the opportunity to meet them twice on such a grand stage was a dream realized. The match itself was a showcase of the Williams sisters’ enduring skill and athleticism.
Despite their ages—Serena at 44 and Venus at 46—the duo displayed moments of youthful vigor, with Serena’s powerful groundstrokes and Venus’s aggressive net play reminding fans why they have been fixtures at the top of the sport for decades. At one point, a blistering Venus volley was met with a swift, swinging winner from Serena, prompting the entire arena to rise in applause. However, the first set slipped away after two crucial breaks of Serena’s serve.
Her service game, which had looked formidable at Wimbledon and in a recent mixed‑doubles match with Carlos Alcaraz, faltered under pressure. The sisters rallied in the second set, converting a fifth‑set point after Joint’s overhead drifted long, and forced a tie‑break that they ultimately won, leveling the match.
The deciding set proved to be a historic moment for the pair. It was the first time since 2001 that they had pushed beyond a 5‑5 deadlock in a third set at a major.
Yet, the momentum shifted dramatically when they squandered a 5‑0 lead in the final tie‑break. A well‑placed volley from Chan Hao‑Ching sealed the match, ending what had been a hopeful comeback and sending the crowd into a mixture of admiration and disappointment.
Following the loss, the United States Tennis Association confirmed that the sisters would not be available for comment. Nonetheless, speculation about Serena’s future continued, especially after ESPN analyst Caroline Wozniacki suggested that Serena may be planning a return to singles competition next season.
The day’s action was not limited to the women's doubles. On the men’s side, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas rebounded from an opening‑set setback 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. In another notable result, American 11th seed Frances Tiafoe dispatched Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Later, Ben Shelton, who reached the US Open semi‑finals in 2023, secured a place in the next round by overcoming Denis Shapovalov in four sets.
Despite a high number of unforced errors, Shelton prevailed 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 in a three‑hour‑23‑minute contest, 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.
Viewers can also stream matches without a contract via the NOW platform or the Sky Sports app. Additionally, tennis fans have the opportunity to attend the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, where matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Overall, the Williams sisters’ defeat underscored both the relentless passage of time and the timeless allure of Grand Slam competition. While their run ended earlier than hoped, their performance reminded the world of their indomitable spirit, and the emergence of new talents like Maya Joint signals the next generation poised to carry the sport forward.