Williams sisters’ return becomes celebration despite first-round exit

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 6, 2026

Serena and Venus Williams reunited for their first doubles match in four years at the US Open, narrowly losing in a thrilling first-round contest to Maya Joint and Chan Hao-ching. Their return highlighted their lasting influence on tennis and drew a large, appreciative crowd, underscoring their enduring legacy despite uncertainty about future pairings.

Serena and Venus Williams returned to the doubles court at the US Open on Friday, marking their first match together in four years before a crowd of 23,000 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Although the legendary sisters were defeated in a closely contested first-round match by Australia’s Maya Joint and Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching, the event became a celebration of their enduring impact on tennis.

Joint and Chan, seeded 14th, secured a 6-3, 6-7(6-7), 7-6(10-7) victory after more than three hours of play. Despite the loss, much of the focus was on the Williams sisters’ resilience and the enthusiasm of the crowd, who cheered loudly for every successful shot and remained nearly silent during rallies, underscoring their reverence for the duo.

Serena Williams, 44, entered the court wearing a distinctive bomber jacket adorned with patches commemorating her US Open singles and doubles titles. Venus, 46, stood alongside her sister with matching pink bags, both showing the weight of their combined legacy: 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, including two US Open championships, three Olympic gold medals, as well as a combined total of 30 Grand Slam singles titles.

The match unfolded as a tense battle, with Joint and Chan taking the first set despite heavy crowd support for the Williams sisters. Fueled by the fans, Serena and Venus rallied to claim the second set in a tiebreaker, pushing the match into a decisive final set. The younger pair ultimately prevailed in the super tiebreak, overcoming the emotional and physical challenges of facing two of the sport’s most iconic figures.

Following the match, Joint spoke of the significance of competing against the Williams sisters, calling it “super special.” The 20-year-old Australian also reflected on having faced Serena earlier this year at Wimbledon, where she defeated the American in singles. Joint described the experience as indescribable, noting her personal admiration for the sisters, particularly given her upbringing in Michigan.

The Williams duo had been unable to play together at Wimbledon due to Serena’s knee injury but seized the opportunity to reunite in New York, where Serena had also made an impact in mixed doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz, reaching the quarterfinals.

Whether Serena and Venus will pair up again at future tournaments remains uncertain. Nonetheless, their appearance on Friday served as a poignant reminder of their enduring dedication and the deep connection they share with tennis fans worldwide, making it a memorable night at Flushing Meadows.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.