Serena and Venus Williams’ return to Grand Slam doubles competition ended in heartbreak Thursday as the American duo was defeated in the opening round of the women’s doubles at the U.S. Open, falling to Maya Joint and Chan Hao-ching by a 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(7) scoreline in a match decided by a third-set tie-break.
The sisters, who received a wild card entry into the draw for their first appearance together at Flushing Meadows since 2022, fought back from losing the opening set but ultimately succumbed to their opponents in the decisive tie-break, which ended 9-7 in favor of Joint and Chan.
The result eliminates one of tennis’s most celebrated partnerships from the tournament in the opening round, though the closeness of the final set demonstrated that the Williams sisters remain competitive at the sport’s highest level despite their extended absence from regular doubles competition.
What Happened
The match unfolded over nearly two and a half hours on the grand stage of Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the American duo began their campaign against Joint and Chan. The Williams sisters, competing together for the first time at a major since 2022, appeared to struggle early as Joint and Chan claimed the opening set 6-3.
The American team responded strongly in the second set, pushing the match to a tie-break after neither team could break through. In the tie-break, the Williams sisters recovered from a 6-4 deficit to win the set 8-6, forcing a decisive third set.
The final set remained on serve throughout, with both teams holding their service games until reaching a tie-break to decide the match. In the decisive tie-break, opportunities came and went for both pairs, but Joint and Chan ultimately held their composure to secure a 9-7 victory, completing a comeback from dropping the second set to advance to the second round.
Why It Matters
The defeat marks an early exit for two of tennis’s most decorated players, ending what many fans hoped would be a deeper run at their home Grand Slam. For Serena and Venus Williams, who have dominated women’s doubles for more than two decades, a first-round exit represents a significant departure from their historic success at Flushing Meadows.
The result also raises questions about the sisters’ future competitive prospects in doubles play. While their performance in the third-set tie-break demonstrated that they can still compete at a high level, the inconsistency shown in the opening set and the ultimate failure to close out the match suggest a potential decline in their ability to perform under pressure at the sport’s highest level.
For Joint and Chan, the victory represents a significant statement win that continues their recent upward trajectory in women’s doubles. The pairing demonstrated composure and resilience in closing out the match against opponents with vastly more Grand Slam experience, suggesting they may be developing into a consistent force on the WTA Tour.
Background and Context
The Williams sisters have compiled one of the most remarkable records in the history of women’s doubles tennis, capturing 14 Grand Slam doubles championships together. Their partnership, which began in the late 1990s, produced dominance across all four major tournaments, with multiple titles at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.
Their return to Flushing Meadows marked their first competitive appearance together at a Grand Slam since 2022, when they also entered the women’s doubles draw as wild cards before withdrawing before their second-round match. Thursday’s defeat represents their earliest exit from a major tournament as a doubles team in recent memory.
Joint and Chan, by contrast, represent a younger partnership that has shown promising results in recent months. The team notably eliminated the sixth-seeded pairing of Desirae Krawczyk and Aldila Sutjiadi in the quarterfinals of last month’s Wimbledon tournament, demonstrating their ability to compete against established teams on the big stage. Thursday’s victory over the Williams sisters adds a significant scalp to their growing doubles resume.
The wild card entry granted to the Williams sisters by tournament organizers reflected both their legendary status in the sport and the anticipated fan interest in their return to competitive doubles play. The capacity crowd that gathered for the match testified to the continued public fascination with the sisters’ partnership, regardless of recent results.
What to Watch Next
The defeat means the Williams sisters’ U.S. Open campaign is over for doubles play, though the possibility of either sister competing in singles action remains a story worth monitoring. Venus Williams, who has continued to play primarily on the singles tour in recent years, could potentially feature in other draws at this year’s tournament.
For Joint and Chan, their second-round matchup will provide an opportunity to build on Thursday’s momentum. A deep run at the U.S. Open would solidify their status as a rising partnership on the WTA Tour and potentially elevate their seeding at future major tournaments.
The broader tennis world will also be watching to see whether the Williams sisters return to doubles competition following this result. Their legendary partnership has produced countless memorable moments, and fans around the world will hope for additional opportunities to see the sisters compete together, though Thursday’s result may influence their decisions about future tournament entries.
Conclusion
Thursday’s defeat brought an end to a highly anticipated return to Grand Slam doubles competition for Serena and Venus Williams, but the match itself delivered the drama and competitive intensity that fans have come to expect from the sport’s most successful sisters. While the scoreline indicates the Williams duo remains capable of competing at the highest level, the outcome also underscores the challenges of returning to elite competition after extended absences from the Tour.
For Joint and Chan, the victory signals their emergence as a partnership capable of defeating Hall of Fame-caliber teams on the sport’s biggest stages. As the tournament progresses, their continued success will serve as a reminder that while the Williams sisters’ era of dominance may be winding down, the next generation of doubles teams continues to rise.
The U.S. Open women’s doubles draw continues without its most storied partnership, but the competition among the remaining teams promises to deliver additional compelling tennis as the tournament moves toward its conclusion.
Sources
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/05/serena-venus-williams-us-open-doubles-defeat
Source: Guardian International
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Story synopsis gathered from: Guardian International — source
