Venus and Serena Williams lost a three-hour first-round women's doubles match at the US Open, going down 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(7) to Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint despite leading 5-0 in the deciding tie-break.
Key facts
- The Williams sisters lost in the first round of the US Open women's doubles.
- The final score was 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(7) in favour of Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint.
- The match lasted around three hours inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
- The sisters led 5-0 in the third-set tie-break before being overtaken.
- They had earlier fought back from 1-4 down in the deciding set.
Venus and Serena Williams’ return to prime-time tennis in New York ended in a painful first-round defeat at the US Open, according to the Guardian. The American pair lost their women’s doubles match 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(7) to Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint after a contest lasting around three hours.
The match played out inside a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the Williams sisters fought to overturn a series of deficits. Having dropped the opening set 6-3, they battled back to take the second in a tie-break, forcing a decider.
In the third set, the sisters found themselves trailing 1-4 before clawing their way back into contention. They then established a commanding 5-0 lead in the deciding tie-break, appearing to be on the verge of victory.
However, momentum swung sharply. Just as they seemed set to advance, the Williams sisters were overtaken and lost the tie-break 7-6(7), bringing their return to a close.
The Guardian described the pair as one of the greatest doubles teams ever to share a tennis court, noting their admirable fight before defeat ultimately came swiftly.
Why it matters
Venus and Serena Williams are among the most successful and recognisable figures in tennis history, so any return to a Grand Slam draws significant attention. The tight, three-hour battle underscores both their competitive spirit and the difficulty of returning to the top level of the sport.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of the Williams sisters' US Open doubles match?
They lost 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(7) to Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint in the first round of the women's doubles.
How close did the Williams sisters come to winning?
They led 5-0 in the third-set tie-break and had earlier fought back from 1-4 down in the deciding set before ultimately losing.
Where and how long was the match played?
The match was played inside Arthur Ashe Stadium and lasted around three hours, according to the Guardian.