The 2026 US Open women’s doubles draw delivered an emotionally charged scene to Flushing Meadows on September 4, 2026, when Serena Williams and Venus Williams returned to the tournament together for the first time in four years. According to reports from Reuters, the American sisters fell in a grueling three-hour, two-minute opening-round battle against Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and Australia’s Maya Joint, dropping the match 1-2 (3-6, 7-6, 6-7) inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Arthur Ashe Stadium Atmosphere and Night Match Scale
According to reporting, the first-round encounter was granted an unusual night match slot on the tournament’s main court. Approximately 23,000 spectators packed Arthur Ashe Stadium under the New York lights to witness the return of the sibling pair, who accepted a tournament wildcard to compete together at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2022.
The atmosphere proved electric from the opening exchange, though the lengthy layoff initially showed in the Americans’ coordination. According to match accounts, the Williams sisters struggled to find their rhythm early, dropping the first set 3-6 as Chan and Joint capitalized.
Momentum Shifts and the 10-Point Match Tiebreak
As the match progressed into the second set, the pair rediscovered their form. According to match statistics, Venus anchored the court with sharp, decisive volleys while Serena fired a succession of powerful serves that shifted the momentum of the contest. The second set extended into a tense tiebreak where the Williams pair successfully converted five set points to edge out an 8-6 win, leveling the match at one set apiece.
The decisive third set featured a dramatic momentum swing. According to game-by-game reporting, the Williams sisters fell behind 1-4 early in the set before mounting a determined comeback fueled by their competitive drive. They clawed back to force a 10-point match tiebreak and surged ahead to a 5-0 lead, prompting roars from the capacity crowd. However, double faults and a sudden shift in focus allowed Chan and Joint to storm back, ultimately closing out the tiebreak 10-7 to seal the upset.
Reflections from the Court and Opponents
Following the emotional conclusion, Maya Joint spoke to reporters about sharing the court with her idols. According to Reuters, Joint reflected on the experience by stating that it was an honor to compete against the legends of the sport, noting that both sisters had served as her idols.
The defeat marks another chapter in the doubles legacy of the Williams sisters, who boast 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals together (Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, and London 2012). Prior to this tournament, the duo returned to the doubles circuit last month at the Cincinnati Open, ending a four-year hiatus that began following their 2022 US Open appearance.
Broader US Open Context: Sabalenka, Pegula, and Alcaraz Advance
While the doubles opening round dominated the immediate headlines, action across the singles draws continued to shape the tournament. According to tournament wires, women’s world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus advanced to the round of 16 with a 2-0 (6-3, 6-4) victory over Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova. Sabalenka, who did not face a single break point and fired 10 aces, is seeking to become the first woman to win three consecutive US Open singles titles since Serena Williams accomplished the feat between 2012 and 2014.
In other women’s singles action, 2024 tournament runner-up Jessica Pegula of the United States overcame a slow start against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, battling back to win 2-1 (1-6, 6-4, 6-3). Pegula advances to face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea as she pursues her first career Grand Slam singles title.
On the men’s side, world number 3 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain continued his dominant hard-court form with a straight-set victory over China’s Wu Yibing, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. The win extends Alcaraz’s major tournament winning streak to 17 matches following titles at the previous US Open and the 2026 Australian Open. Alcaraz moves on to face American Tommy Paul in the round of 16.
Tournament organizers have not yet announced official scheduling for the upcoming round-of-16 matches. Fans and media can monitor daily order-of-play announcements and official updates on the official US Open website.
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