Williams Sisters US Open Match: Lose Thrilling Doubles Tiebreaker

• Venus and Serena Williams lost their women's doubles match at the U.S. Open on Friday, September 4, 2026, to Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint.
• The sisters, returning to Grand Slam doubles for the first time since 2022, fell in a match tiebreaker with a score of 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7) after blowing a 5-0 lead.
• Serena, 44, and Venus, 46, have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and two U.S. Open doubles titles in 1999 and 2009.
• The match was held in the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, a rare occurrence for a first-round doubles match, highlighting its significant draw.
• Elsewhere at the tournament, Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the round of 16, and Aryna Sabalenka won her match despite being challenged by her opponent and an unusual odor.

The highly anticipated return of the Williams sisters to doubles competition at the U.S. Open concluded with a narrow loss in a thrilling match tiebreaker.

The highly anticipated return of the Williams sisters to doubles competition at the U.S. Open concluded with a narrow loss in a thrilling match tiebreaker. On Friday, September 4, 2026, Venus and Serena Williams faced off against the pairing of Hao-Ching Chan from Taiwan and Maya Joint from Australia in New York. The American duo, despite a valiant effort, ultimately fell with a final score of 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7).

The dramatic encounter saw the Williams sisters battle back from a 4-1 deficit in the third set to level the score, pushing the match into a decisive 10-point tiebreaker. However, after establishing a commanding 5-0 lead in the tiebreaker, they were unable to maintain their momentum, eventually losing it 10-7. Both sisters committed double faults during this critical phase, contributing to their opponents' comeback.

This particular Williams sisters US Open match marked their first appearance together at the Grand Slam tournament since 2022. The event was granted a coveted spot in the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, an unusual allocation for a first-round doubles contest, underscoring the immense public interest in their participation. Following the U.S. Tennis Association confirmed that the sisters would not be available for comment.

The return of the Williams sisters to the U.S. Open doubles court rekindled memories of their illustrious career together. They have a remarkable history at this specific tournament, having secured the women's doubles title twice, in 1999 and again in 2009. Their overall record in their ten U.S. Open doubles appearances now stands at 27 wins and 8 losses.

Beyond their success in New York, the sisters have amassed an impressive 14 Grand Slam doubles titles throughout their careers. Their dominance extended to the Olympic stage, where they earned gold medals in doubles in 2000, 2008, and 2012. For eight weeks, they jointly held the No. 1 ranking in women's doubles, a testament to their unparalleled synergy on court. The atmosphere surrounding their latest match was electric, with opponent Maya Joint noting that the crowd was exactly as expected, a full stadium vociferously cheering for the legendary pair, creating a truly special environment.

Even fellow competitors recognized the significance of the occasion. Carlos Alcaraz, the defending men's champion, expressed his intention to watch the doubles match while receiving treatment, highlighting the draw of seeing the Williams sisters compete once more.

This doubles appearance followed Serena Williams's return to professional tennis earlier in the year at the age of 44, while Venus Williams, at 46, has continued her presence on the tour. Serena's comeback had faced previous hurdles, including a three-set singles loss to Maya Joint at Wimbledon this summer. Furthermore, a knee injury sustained by Serena forced the sisters to withdraw from a doubles match at the Cincinnati Open, delaying their Grand Slam return until the U.S. Open.

Their last joint appearance at a Grand Slam in 2022, which also resulted in a first-round loss, was widely believed to be their final match together, as Serena subsequently stepped away from tennis after securing 23 Grand Slam singles titles. However, her decision to return this summer has led to two emotionally charged defeats alongside her older sister, including another match tiebreaker loss at the Cincinnati Open. Venus Williams also experienced an early exit from the singles competition at the same tournament.

While the Williams sisters' match dominated headlines, other significant events unfolded across the U.S. Open. Carlos Alcaraz, who had been sidelined for four months due to a right wrist injury, successfully advanced to the round of 16 by defeating Wu Yibing with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. The two-time champion expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating he felt better than anticipated, and is now set to face the No. 20 seed, Tommy Paul, who narrowly overcame Alexander Bublik in five sets.

On the women's side, two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka secured a victory against Kamilla Rakhimova, winning 6-3, 6-4. Sabalenka, the No. 1 seed, faced a more challenging second set that lasted 54 minutes, a minute longer than her entire previous match. She is striving to become the first player since Serena Williams (2012-2014) to win three consecutive U.S. Open titles and will next compete against Taylor Townsend in the round of 16. During her match in Louis Armstrong Stadium, Sabalenka was visibly bothered by an unusual distraction, approaching the chair umpire after twice letting the ball drop before serving, reportedly due to the smell of marijuana.

Source: Original reporting via Associated Press