Venus and Serena Williams’ much-anticipated return to Grand Slam doubles ended in dramatic fashion on Friday, as the American sisters were edged in a three-set battle at the US Open.
The sisters were beaten by Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York after a contest that lasted three hours and featured a tense deciding 10-point tiebreak.
Chan and Joint eventually prevailed 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7), ending the Williams sisters’ hopes of extending their doubles comeback at the tournament.
The defeat came after Venus and Serena had fought their way back into the contest following the loss of the opening set.
With the match heading into the decisive tiebreak, the Williams sisters appeared to have seized control after establishing a 5-0 advantage. However, Chan and Joint mounted a remarkable recovery and turned the contest around, eventually securing the 10-7 victory.
At the conclusion, Venus and Serena embraced before congratulating their opponents.
The official US Open account on X also paid tribute to the sisters, posting alongside a video of them waving to the crowd as they departed the court: “No matter the result, always good to see Serena and Venus competing 💙.”
A Comeback Years in the Making
The appearance marked another chapter in the sisters’ return to competitive doubles and came after months of anticipation.
Venus and Serena had initially planned to reunite at Wimbledon, but those plans were disrupted when Serena, 44, suffered a knee issue during a singles match shortly before the tournament.
Their next opportunity came at the Cincinnati Open, where the sisters accepted a wild card and returned to the doubles court together.
However, they were defeated by Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in their opening match on August 17, losing 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (8).
Despite the early defeat, Venus, 46, remained optimistic about the reunion.
“We waited a long time to get back on the doubles court, even this year,” Venus told reporters afterwards. “I think eventually we would find our way to each other.”
The US Open therefore represented another opportunity for the sisters to rediscover the partnership that produced 14 Grand Slam doubles titles.
Their run ultimately ended in a match that showcased both their experience and competitive spirit.
Serena’s Return to Competitive Tennis
For Serena, the US Open doubles appearance was part of a broader return to professional tennis after several years away from the sport.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion had not competed since 2022 before returning to action in June.
On June 9, she partnered Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko at the Queen’s Club Championship in London.
The pair defeated New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe and American Nicole Melichar-Martinez in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.
That comeback added another significant milestone to Serena’s celebrated career and raised speculation about how far she might take her return.
Her reunion with Venus in doubles provided another emotional moment for tennis fans, particularly given the sisters’ history at the highest level of the sport.
An Emotional Night in New York
Although the result went against them, the Williams sisters received a strong reception from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.
Their presence generated considerable attention throughout the tournament, with fans eager to see the pair compete together again on one of tennis’ biggest stages.
The final result, however, belonged to Chan and Joint, who showed considerable composure after falling behind in the deciding tiebreak.
For Venus and Serena, the defeat brings their latest doubles comeback to an end, but it also adds another memorable chapter to one of the most successful partnerships in tennis history.
After years of dominating women's tennis together and separately, the sisters once again found themselves competing side by side under the lights at the US Open.
This time, the victory escaped them — but their return to Arthur Ashe Stadium provided a reminder of the enduring appeal of the Williams sisters and their extraordinary place in the sport.