Williams Sisters’ US Open Doubles Comeback Ends in Dramatic Defeat

Serena and Venus Williams made an emotional and highly anticipated return to US Open women’s doubles on Friday, but their comeback ended with a heartbreaking three-set loss to Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint.

Playing before an electrified crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the American sisters were beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/7) after a contest packed with momentum swings.

The Williams sisters, owners of 14 Grand Slam doubles titles — including two US Open championships — mounted a stunning fightback in the deciding set.

After falling 4-2 behind, Serena and Venus recovered and surged ahead 5-0 in the deciding 10-point tiebreak. But Chan and Joint held their nerve, winning seven of the next 12 points to complete the comeback and claim victory.

The match was the sisters’ first Grand Slam doubles appearance since the 2022 US Open. They last lifted a doubles title together at Roland Garros in 2018.

Venus, 46, and Serena, 44, demonstrated plenty of the quality that has defined their careers. Serena produced several outstanding moments at the net, while her serve was less consistent.

After losing the first set, the Americans responded in impressive fashion. They dominated the second set, producing 20 winners, holding every service game and eventually forcing a tiebreak.

The sisters levelled the match when Joint hit an overhead shot long, prompting a huge roar from the Arthur Ashe crowd.

Chan and Joint regained the advantage in the third set, taking a 4-2 lead. But the Williams sisters refused to fade, battling back before taking a commanding lead in the deciding tiebreak.

The younger Joint and Chan, however, responded under immense pressure and completed one of the most memorable victories of their careers.

For Serena, the match represented her first appearance at Flushing Meadows since the 2022 US Open. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion had returned to major singles competition as a Wimbledon wild card four years after announcing that she was “evolving away” from tennis.

Her Wimbledon campaign ended with a defeat by Joint in a Centre Court encounter that captivated both hardcore tennis followers and more casual viewers.

Despite having shared that experience with Serena, Joint said the atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium was on another level.

The sisters received a thunderous reception as they entered the court, dressed in understated white and appearing fully focused.

The crowd erupted after every blistering volley and overhead smash, with the noise reaching deafening levels as Serena and Venus raced into their 5-0 lead in the deciding tiebreak.

“The atmosphere was surreal,” Joint said. “Being able to play against such legends of the game is super special.”

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