Serena and Venus Williams lose US Open doubles thriller in comeback

The Williams sisters’ first US Open doubles pairing in four years ended in a three‑set defeat, a result that now shapes the conversation around Serena’s hoped‑for singles return and Venus’s looming decision about her future on tour.

Playing on a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, Serena (44) and Venus (46) fell 6‑3 7‑6 (6) 7‑6 (10‑8) to the 14th‑seeded team of Maya Joint and Hao‑Ching Chan. After dropping the opening set, the veterans rallied from 4‑1 down in the third set, forced a first‑to‑10 tie‑break and even led 5‑0, only for Joint and Chan to snatch the win. The match, which lasted just over three hours, supplied the evening’s biggest headline and left the crowd chanting for more.

Media additions

Both sisters have a storied US Open history – they captured the women’s doubles crown in 1999 and 2009 and sit 27‑8 in their ten appearances. Their last US Open doubles outing was in 2022, a first‑round loss that many assumed would be Serena’s final bow in Queens. Instead, the 2026 comeback opened a fresh chapter for the duo, even if it concluded with a narrow exit.

### Context from the three outlets

CBS News highlighted the match as a “thriller three‑set match” that saw the pair “take centre stage at Arthur Ashe Stadium for more than three hours.” The report also noted that this was Serena’s second loss to Joint that summer – the first at Wimbledon, where Joint also beat Serena in singles – and that both sisters had previously withdrawn from Wimbledon doubles after Serena’s knee injury.

The Mirror focused on the emotional weight of the performance, quoting Caroline Wozniacki, “Obviously, Serena and Venus want to win today but for Serena this is also kind of getting ready for the next season, get some points and get movement, play a real match before she really asserts herself back into the singles court.” Wozniacki went on to say she does not expect Serena to play singles at this US Open, adding that the former champion’s knee “is still not 100 percent.”

Meanwhile, NY Daily News described the evening as “one of the biggest highlights of this US Open thus far,” emphasizing the crowd’s reaction and Joint’s comment that the Williams sisters “came out playing great.” The outlet also referenced the sisters’ earlier mixed‑doubles loss with Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open a week earlier.

### Key moments in the match

• First set: Joint and Chan dominated, taking the set 6‑3.
• Second set: The Williamses held serve throughout, forcing a 7‑6 tie‑break which they won 8‑6.
• Third set: After trailing 4‑1, the sisters fought back to 4‑4, then led 5‑0 in the first‑to‑10 tie‑break before Joint and Chan rallied to win 10‑8.

The turning point arrived when the Williams sisters, after a flawless start to the final tie‑break, “slowly unraveled,” as Chan described, committing double faults and missing crucial points.

### Voices from the court

“I don’t think we took anything lightly. They came out playing great.”

Maya Joint, player, via NY Daily News

“Obviously, Serena and Venus want to win today but for Serena this is also kind of getting ready for the next season, get some points and get movement, play a real match before she really asserts herself back into the singles court.”

Caroline Wozniacki, former world No. 1, via Mirror

“I mean, the night match against the Williams sisters with the New York crowd, it's going to be tough,”

Bethanie Mattek‑Sands, nine‑time Grand Slam doubles champion, via CBS News

### What this loss means

For Serena, the match offered a simulated “real match” ahead of a potential singles campaign next season, as suggested by Wozniacki. The veteran’s knee, still not “100 percent,” may delay that return, but the three‑set battle demonstrated that she can still generate “points and movement” against younger opponents.

Venus, who bowed out of singles the same night after a straight‑sets defeat to Sofia Kenin, was quoted as focusing on “how I recover from this completely insane evening and get ready for the next one.” Her comments hint at contemplation about retirement, especially after a string of recent first‑round losses.

Joint and Chan, meanwhile, affirmed their belief that “the atmosphere was super special,” noting that playing against the legendary duo was a career highlight.

As the stadium lights dimmed, the Williams sisters waved to a roaring crowd, their smiles betraying a blend of pride and melancholy. Though the night ended in defeat, the performance reminded the sport why the sisters remain iconic, and it set the tone for the narratives that will dominate the remainder of the tournament.

For continued coverage of the US Open and other tennis stories, visit our Sport page.