As reported by USOpen.org, Serena and Venus Williams made their highly anticipated return to Grand Slam doubles but were ultimately defeated by 14th seeds Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint in the first round of the 2026 US Open. The legendary sisters lost a three-hour thriller, ending with a tense 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(7) scoreline.
Playing their first major tournament together since 2022, the Williams sisters commanded the Arthur Ashe Stadium, reminding fans of the dominance that previously earned them 14 Grand Slam doubles titles.
Despite an intense third-set tiebreak, Joint and Chan narrowly edged out the veterans to advance to the second round.
*ESPN* highlighted the emotional weight of the match, reporting, “The Williams sisters delivered a vintage performance, proving their competitive fire remains untouched despite the devastating tiebreak loss.” Additionally, a post-match statement from the *WTA Tour* verified the statistics, stating, “Chan and Joint survived a monumental test of endurance against the sport’s greatest duo to secure their hard-fought second-round berth.”
Echotitbits take: Any time Serena and Venus step onto the court together, it transcends tennis—it becomes a global cultural event. While the loss is a tough pill for nostalgic fans to swallow, their ability to push top-seeded active players to a three-hour tiebreaker in 2026 is a testament to their unparalleled greatness. The sports world will be watching closely to see if this was a final farewell or the start of a selective exhibition tour.
Source: USOpen.org — https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2026-09-04/venus_williams-serena_williams_vs_chan-joint_2026_us_open_womens_doubles_round_1.html, September 4, 2026
Photo Credit: BBC
