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Serena and Venus Williams were beaten by Maya Joint and Chan Hao-Ching in a dramatic US Open first-round doubles match.
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The Williams sisters blew a 5-0 lead in the deciding-set tie-break before losing 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (10-7).
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The defeat came in their first Grand Slam doubles appearance together since the 2022 US Open.
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Serena and Venus were attempting another remarkable comeback more than two decades after first winning the US Open doubles title together.
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Joint, who defeated Serena at Wimbledon earlier this summer, produced another memorable night against the Williams sisters.
September 05, (THEWILL) — Serena and Venus Williams came within touching distance of a remarkable US Open comeback before suffering a heartbreaking defeat in a dramatic first-round doubles battle at Flushing Meadows.
The American sisters were beaten by 14th seeds Maya Joint and Chan Hao-Ching 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (10-7) after three hours and two minutes of gripping tennis.
Having fallen behind after the opening set, Serena and Venus fought back to force a deciding tie-break and appeared destined for victory when they established a commanding 5-0 advantage.
But the finish slipped away from the legendary pair.
Joint and Chan recovered from the huge deficit to win the deciding tie-break 10-7, ending the sisters’ highly anticipated return to Grand Slam doubles competition.
Williams Sisters Roll Back the Years
The match represented a remarkable return for Serena and Venus, who were playing together at a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2022 US Open.
Their history made the occasion even more significant.
Together, the sisters have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, including two US Open crowns and three Olympic gold medals.
Their return also came 27 years after they first won the US Open doubles title, underlining just how extraordinary their longevity has been.
At 44, Serena and 46-year-old Venus repeatedly showed flashes of the tennis that made them one of the most successful doubles partnerships in history.
The packed Arthur Ashe Stadium responded to almost every big point, with the crowd rising whenever the sisters produced another moment of brilliance.
But after losing the opening set, they needed something special to stay alive.
Serena and Venus Fight Back
Two breaks of Serena’s serve proved costly in the first set as Joint and Chan established control.
The Williams sisters refused to fold, however, forcing the second set into a tie-break.
They eventually converted their fifth set point when Joint sent an overhead long, sending the match into a deciding set.
The third set then produced another extraordinary twist.
Serena and Venus appeared to have the match under control after taking a 5-0 lead in the deciding tie-break.
But Joint and Chan produced a remarkable recovery.
Point by point, the 14th seeds erased the deficit before completing the comeback 10-7.
A Chan volley sealed the victory and ended the Williams sisters’ hopes of progressing further in the tournament.
Another Special Night for Maya Joint
For Joint, the victory added another extraordinary chapter to her breakthrough summer.
The 20-year-old Australian had already defeated Serena in the women’s singles at Wimbledon earlier this year.
She was then given the opportunity to face the American legend again, this time alongside Chan on one of the biggest stages in tennis.
“Being able to play against such legends of the game is super special,” Joint said after the match.
The Australian admitted the occasion was difficult to put into words, having grown up idolising the Williams sisters.
The victory therefore carried significance beyond simply reaching the second round.
Joint had already made headlines by defeating Serena.
She had now done it again — this time helping to end the sisters’ comeback together at the US Open.
What Comes Next for Serena?
The defeat may not necessarily mark the end of Serena Williams’ latest return to competitive tennis.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion returned to the US Open alongside Venus after being awarded a wild card, while she also featured in mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz earlier in the tournament.
There has even been speculation about a possible singles return next year after former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki suggested Serena could be considering another comeback.
For now, however, the focus remains on what happened inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Serena and Venus had turned back the clock, fought through a three-hour battle and moved within five points of victory.
But after surrendering a 5-0 lead in the deciding tie-break, their latest Grand Slam adventure ended in painful fashion.
The Williams sisters may have fallen short, but their return delivered exactly what the US Open crowd had hoped for: nostalgia, drama and one more unforgettable night from two of tennis’ greatest icons.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
