The remarkable run of Venus Williams and her partner Leylah Fernandez has come to an end at the US Open, as the wildcard duo was defeated in the women's doubles quarter-finals by top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova. Despite an impressive journey that saw them eliminate two seeded pairs, the American-Canadian tandem couldn't overcome the formidable partnership of Townsend and Siniakova, who secured a swift 6-1, 6-2 victory in just 57 minutes.

A Partisan Crowd's Farewell

The match on Louis Armstrong Stadium was a moment of reflection for many, as the crowd was openly in favor of the veteran Williams, a four-time champion at Flushing Meadows. Even Townsend, a fan favorite at her home major, found herself playing against a partisan crowd eager to see Williams extend her tournament. This emotional backdrop highlighted the immense respect Williams commands in the tennis world, with both Townsend and Siniakova paying tribute to her legendary career after the match.

"Growing up watching Venus and Serena, for me and my sister, we wanted to be like them. It was an honour to share the court with her,” said Townsend. Siniakova echoed the sentiment, calling it a "privilege" to play against the tennis icon.

A Tough Outing

Despite the overwhelming crowd support, the match was one-way traffic from the start. Townsend and Siniakova were relentless, winning 12 of the first 13 points to race to a 3-0 lead. The top seeds' dominance was met with polite applause until Williams showed a flash of her vintage form with a bruising forehand winner that drew a roar from the crowd. Still, Townsend and Siniakova, who dropped just six points on their serve throughout the match, proved too strong.

The defeat marks the end of a notable run for Williams, who was playing in her first doubles quarter-final since winning Wimbledon in 2016. Her inspiring return to the latter stages of a Grand Slam, coupled with her emotional exit from the singles competition, underscored her enduring spirit and the affection she receives from fans.

Looking ahead, Townsend and Siniakova, who have yet to drop a set in the tournament, will face fourth seeds Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens for a spot in the final.

Other Doubles Action

In men's doubles, the British pair of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, the sixth seeds, mounted a comeback from a set down to advance to the third round with a 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 win over Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. Meanwhile, another Briton, Marcus Willis, and his partner Karol Drzewiecki were eliminated after a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 defeat to Czech duo Tomas Machac and Matej Vocel.