Serena and Venus Williams’ much-hyped US Open doubles comeback came to an abrupt and dramatic end Friday night, as the iconic sisters exited in the first round after surrendering a 5-0 advantage in the deciding 10-point tiebreak.
The Williams sisters had made a late move into the women’s doubles field in New York, accepting a wildcard shortly before the tournament after teaming up earlier this summer at the Cincinnati Open following Serena’s return to the court.
Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, had stepped away from professional tennis four years earlier, with many fans believing her emotional appearance on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open would be the final chapter of her legendary career.
Her comeback trail had already included a singles wildcard at Wimbledon earlier in the summer, where she was edged in three hard-fought sets by Joint — the same opponent she would encounter again under the lights in New York.
But Serena could not turn the tables two months later against the Australian world No. 72, who now owns an unexpected 2-0 mark against one of tennis’ greatest champions after the American crowd favorites fell 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-7(7).
The Williams sisters received a hero’s welcome as they kicked off the night session, with the stadium fast to fill up with fans eager to see the blockbuster siblings back in action for the first time on Arthur Ashe since 2022.
Venus and Serena Williams were dumped out of the US Open women’s doubles in round one
Serena and her sister were partnering at the US Open for the first time in four years on Friday
They battled well to win the second set before forcing their higher-ranked opponents to a third
But they could not get the better of Australia’s Maya Joint (left) and Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching
While both sisters were laser-focused on their evening’s work ahead, Serena let her fashion do the talking, sporting a bomber jacket to walk onto court which listed the years she won singles and doubles titles at the US Open.
And after complaints had been made all week about the noise during play on the over 23,000-capacity stadium, you might have been able to hear a proverbial pin drop as Joint prepared her first serve to kick-off the match.
The Australian must have learned a lot from her match-up this year against Serena, after admitting that she had been ‘intimidated’ by the 44-year-old due to the iconic position she occupies within the sport. Joint was composed as she held serve, with both the 20-year-old and her partner Chan admirably calm under the lights of Arthur Ashe.
The two pairs passed the opening games between one another, with the occasion perhaps top of mind for all four women on court.
But Serena and Venus had an explosive crowd on their side, who provided an enormous roar at the sight of the first real moment of Serena brilliance – a thunderous backhand which could only force an error.
The Williams sisters indisputably have history, but Chan and Joint are a tested recent pair, in July reaching a final together in Memphis. Their partnership felt sharp and familiar, and it was no surprised when they pinched the early break.
Under the gaze of New York Knicks hero Karl-Anthony Towns and his new wife Jordyn Woods, Williams Squared were full of fight, and strong net play.
A bullish break-back for 2-3 ensued, with the crowd firmly onside. They continued to fend off break points too as Chan and Joint grew into the game – but eventually succumbed at 5-3, with their opponents navigating a tricky service game to pull off the opening set.
They would find the second set far thornier to deal with. Although their games on serve stretched, Venus and Serena were able to knuckle down and hold serve, keeping pace with Chan and Joint all the way to a 4-3 lead.
The sisters blew a 5-0 lead in the 10-point tiebreaker before eventually losing 6-3, 6-7, 7-6
Venus looked a far cry from the singles player who lost her 15th match in a row this week
The thousands of fans on Arthur Ashe were raucous in their support of the sisters
Among the stars in attendance were newly married Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns
Their run continued. 5-4 up, Serena’s excellent backhand down-the-line won the sisters the opening point. Joint’s serving, which was capable of causing a lot of problems for Serena and Williams, had to be pinpoint-accurate.
But Joint and Chan tightened up, a fine return from Serena brought up deuce, and advantage – it was set point Williams. They had two, and were even assisted by a rare Joint double fault, but they could not convert, and somehow, their opponents clung on.
A strong serving game from Serena, as expected, steadied the ship for 6-5, and after Joint and Chan did the same for a tiebreak. As the stakes rose, so did the Williamses levels, and it was the sibling duo who had the lead, handing Serena the opportunity to serve out the set. She double-faulted the first time, but as Joint hit wildly out into the stands, Serena and Venus took it to the decider.
This was the last time that Serena and Venus would lead. A particularly strong bit of net play from Chan in the third game helped hand their opponents the early break. But the Williams sisters broke back to make it 4-3 in the third and confirmed it with a confident hold that had Chan flinging her racquet on the court in frustration.
In a third set filled with vintage shot making, Venus and Serena wrenched momentum from their rivals with the older Williams sister in particular looking a far cry from the singles player who lost her 15th match in a row at the beginning of this tournament.
Another tiebreak beckoned. The result, however, looked a little different, with the sisters building a strong early lead, only for Joint and Chan to pull off an almighty comeback.
All in, the match lasted just over three hours. Venus and Serena more than proved that they can be competitive against doubles players on the tour in 2026. But their wait for a win this year goes on.