The Williams sisters' return to the US Open doubles court ended in a narrow defeat, as Serena and Venus Williams lost 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(7) to Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint in the first round. The match, played inside a thunderous Arthur Ashe Stadium, saw the American duo fight back from a 1-4 deficit in the final set and establish a 5-0 lead in the third-set tie-break before being edged out.
A Three-Hour Battle in New York
The sisters, who have not competed together since 2022, spent over three hours on court, producing moments of brilliance and nearly defeating the 14th-seeded team. Serena, 44, had opted out of a singles wildcard after suffering a knee injury at Wimbledon in July, while Venus, 46, lost her 15th consecutive singles match to Sofia Kenin in the first round here.
Despite these setbacks, the doubles match was the one fans wanted to see. The sisters had rejoined forces at the Cincinnati Open this summer, losing in a tight first round battle, and their appearance here was their first together at a Grand Slam since Serena's supposed farewell in 2022.
Serena's Struggles and Venus's Highlights
Serena showed visible rust throughout the match, struggling with her serve and returns. A week after cracking 120mph aces, she was reduced to rolling in her first serve by the final set. Venus, meanwhile, was often the best player on the court but failed to put away key volleys deep in the match.
The Australian-Taiwanese pair of Joint, a top 30 doubles player, and Chan, a former world No 5 and Wimbledon finalist, absorbed the Williams sisters' first strike and tidied up at the net in the decisive moments of the final set tie-break.
Serena's Comeback Philosophy
Serena has repeatedly stressed that this comeback is not about winning, but about enjoying herself and showing her daughters, Olympia and Adira, the world she used to inhabit. She has compiled a 1-4 record in singles and women's doubles since her return, but her competitive spirit and legendary service motion remain on display.
The big question for both players is when this will finally end. Neither gave any indication that this might be their last appearance, as they declined a post-match press conference. Venus and Serena have been playing for over three decades, with Venus starting in 1994 and Serena in 1995. Venus made her breakthrough US Open final run in 1997, and Serena won her first Grand Slam here in 1999.
In 2001, they became the first siblings to face each other in a Grand Slam final. All those years later, they were still out there on Arthur Ashe Stadium, fighting to the death, offering a full, passionate crowd of 23,000 spectators a reminder of their unending passion for the sport.
