Venus and Serena Williams fell in the first round of the US Open women’s doubles tournament on Friday, suffering a tight defeat against Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint at Flushing Meadows in New York City. Playing their first joint tournament in New York since 2022, the sisters pushed their opponents for more than three hours on Arthur Ashe Stadium before dropping a third-set super tie-break for a final score of 6-3, 6-7(6), and 7-6(7), according to tournament reports.
A Heartbreaking Defeat on Arthur Ashe Stadium
The long-awaited homecoming for the Williams sisters ended in a dramatic battle under the lights in New York. Facing Taiwan’s Hao-Ching Chan and Australia’s Maya Joint, Venus and Serena held a commanding 5-0 lead in the deciding super tie-break. However, Chan and Joint mounted a comeback, winning ten of the final twelve points to seal the match after a grueling contest lasting upwards of three hours, as detailed by wire reports from EFE.
The loss marks a sudden halt for the pair, who entered the match holding a historical record of 31-2 in Grand Slam opening rounds. Despite the defeat, the atmosphere inside Flushing Meadows’ premier venue remained electric as fans welcomed back the pair, who previously captured the US Open doubles titles together in 1999 and 2009.
Building Up to the New York Return
The road back to competitive doubles has been fraught with interruptions for the duo. The sisters initially planned to reunite earlier this year at Wimbledon, but Serena sustained an injury during her singles match—against the same Maya Joint she would later face in New York. Following that setback, the pair reappeared roughly two weeks ago at the Cincinnati Open, where they also suffered a first-round exit.
While Serena had stepped away from competitive tennis for four years prior to this summer’s return, Venus has maintained a more active schedule on the tour. In 2025, Venus reached the quarterfinals at the US Open partnering with Canadian player Leylah Fernández. Their opponents in Friday’s draw, Chan and Joint, are continuing a partnership that began just over a month ago at a WTA 250 tournament in Memphis, where the duo reached the finals.
What Comes Next for the Williams Duo
With their doubles campaign in Flushing Meadows concluded, the immediate competitive future for Venus and Serena remains open as they process the emotional conclusion of their New York homecoming. Tournament organizers and tour officials will release further updates regarding any potential late-season entries as the autumn hard-court swing continues.
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