Serena and Venus Williams lost to Maya Joint and Chan Hao-Ching 6-3 6-7 (8-6) 7-6 (10-7) in three hours and two minutes in a US Open women's doubles first-round match. The sisters, playing together at a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2022 US Open, rallied to force a third-set tie-breaker but squandered a 5-0 lead before falling to their opponents.
The Williams sisters won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, including two US Open crowns and three Olympic gold medals. The comeback bid marked a return to competition after 27 years since they last won the US Open doubles title.
Joint, a 20-year-old Australian, defeated Serena at Wimbledon's Centre Court in women's singles before facing her again at Arthur Ashe Stadium. "Being able to play against such legends of the game is super special," Joint said on court. "She's my idol, both of them."
Serena and Venus, ages 44 and 46 respectively, lost the opening set after two breaks of Serena's serve. They converted a fifth set point to take the second set to a tie-break before the third set also extended to a tie-break—their first time past 5-5 in a third set since 2001. The Williams sisters were unable to convert, with a Chan volley ending the match.
The US Tennis Association said the sisters would not be available for comment following the defeat.
