Serena and Venus Williams fall in thrilling return to US Open doubles

Serena and Venus Williams came within five points of victory in the deciding tiebreaker, but their celebrated return to US Open doubles ended in a three-set defeat.

The American sisters led Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and Australia’s Maya Joint 5-0 in the deciding 10-point tiebreaker before losing 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/7). Chan and Joint had moved 4-2 ahead in the third set, but the Williams sisters fought back before their opponents recovered to close out the match.

The sisters had not played Grand Slam doubles since the 2022 US Open. They have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, including two US Opens, and last lifted a title at Roland Garros in 2018. Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, was particularly dangerous at the net, although her serve troubled her during the match.

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Being able to play against such legends of the game is super special.

After dropping the opening set, the Americans leveled the contest in a second-set tiebreaker. They hit 20 winners in the set and held serve throughout, prompting a roar when Joint sent an overhead long. The crowd had greeted the sisters with a thunderous ovation, and every volley and overhead from the Americans drew loud cheers.

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

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The atmosphere was surreal.