Williams sisters knocked out by Australian Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan

Maya Joint has spoiled the Williams sisters’ return to Grand Slam doubles, teaming with Hao-Ching Chan to eliminate Serena and Venus in the first round of the US Open.

In front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, Joint and Chan recovered from 0-5 in the deciding 10-point tiebreak to win 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/7). The sisters appeared to have a dream comeback within reach, but both double-faulted as their opponents took 10 of the final 12 points.

The result gave Joint her second consecutive Grand Slam victory over a Williams sister. She had beaten Serena in the first round of the Wimbledon singles tournament on Centre Court. Joint and Chan had also led 4-1 in the third set before the Williams sisters fought back.

The match received a place in the Arthur Ashe night session, an unusual honor for a first-round doubles match. The sisters had not played together at a Grand Slam since 2022, when they also lost in the first round. Serena stepped away from tennis that year after winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles, then returned this summer.

Serena and Venus won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, as well as Olympic gold medals in 2000, 2008 and 2012. They shared the world number one doubles ranking for eight weeks. The sisters also lost in a match tiebreak at Cincinnati, while Venus fell in the US Open singles first round.