RismadarVoice Reporters
September 5, 2026
Tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams have suffered a narrow defeat in their return to the US Open women’s doubles competition after losing a deciding match tiebreaker in a dramatic first-round encounter.
The Williams sisters were defeated by Hao-Ching Chan of Taiwan and Australia’s Maya Joint in a three-set thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The match ended 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7) in favour of Chan and Joint.
Serena and Venus fought back after losing the opening set, winning the second set through a tiebreak to force a deciding set. They also recovered from a 4-1 deficit in the final set before the match was settled through a 10-point tiebreak.
The sisters appeared close to victory after taking a 5-0 lead in the final tiebreak, but their opponents rallied to win 10 of the next 12 points and secure the victory.
The match marked the Williams sisters’ first US Open doubles appearance together since 2022 and attracted a packed crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where fans gathered to watch one of tennis’ most successful partnerships return to Grand Slam action.
Serena Williams, 44, returned to competitive tennis in 2026 after stepping away from the sport following the 2022 US Open, while Venus Williams, 46, has continued competing on the professional tour.
Together, the sisters have won 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals, establishing one of the most successful partnerships in tennis history.
Despite the defeat, their return generated significant attention from fans and players, with the match serving as another chapter in the careers of two of the sport’s most decorated athletes.
