Sports 12 sources · today Latest coverage 5 Sept 2026, 4:39 am UTC

Venus and Serena Williams Make Dramatic US Open Doubles Return, Exit in First Round

Venus and Serena Williams reunited for the 2026 US Open women's doubles, thrilling fans with a marathon match before a close first-round defeat in New York.

By Claire Dubois · First published 5 Sept 2026

In brief

  1. Venus and Serena Williams returned as a doubles team at the 2026 US Open in New York.
  2. Their match drew major attention and was streamed live on multiple platforms for global audiences.
  3. The sisters faced Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan in an intense first-round match that lasted over three hours.
  4. After winning a set and pushing the match to a third-set tiebreaker, the Williams sisters were narrowly defeated.
  5. Serena Williams is now preparing for a potential singles return to competition in 2027.
Venus and Serena Williams Make Dramatic US Open Doubles Return, Exit in First Round
Source: Sky Sports

Timeline · 7 moments

7 moments Open the full timeline →

Venus and Serena Williams announce US Open doubles return

CBS Top Stories ↗

Streaming options highlighted for Williams sisters' match

Tech Insider ↗

Serena Williams focuses on singles comeback in 2027

Forbes ↗

Live coverage tracks doubles match progress

www.espn.com - TOP Sports ↗

Williams sisters face Joint and Chan in first round

ABC Australia ↗

After three hours, Williams sisters lose in tie-break

Sky Sports ↗

Williams sisters exit US Open but impress crowd

BBC Sport ↗

How it started

Venus and Serena Williams are among the most iconic sibling pairs in sports history, with a long legacy at the US Open. Their decision to team up again for the women's doubles in 2026 immediately drew global attention, given their past successes and recent time away from doubles competition.

Fans were eager to see how the sisters would perform, especially as both have been focusing on different aspects of their careers. Serena, in particular, had hinted at using this doubles run as preparation for a return to singles play in the near future.

How it unfolded

On September 4, outlets began reporting on the Williams sisters' return to the US Open as a doubles pair. Their participation was celebrated as part of a larger American contingent at the tournament. Major streaming and TV platforms highlighted the upcoming match, making it accessible for tennis fans worldwide.

That same day, live updates chronicled their first match, building anticipation as the sisters took to the court at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Coverage noted that Serena was aiming to get fully ready for singles events in 2027.

On September 5, the Williams sisters faced Maya Joint from Australia and Hao-Ching Chan from Taiwan. The match quickly became a highlight of the tournament, lasting over three hours and featuring dramatic momentum swings. The pair played in front of an enthusiastic crowd, with much of the tennis world watching closely.

Despite their efforts, Venus and Serena lost in a closely contested third-set tiebreaker. Reports described the match as agonising and heartbreaking for the sisters, who had turned back the clock with their level of play and competitive spirit.

Where it stands

Venus and Serena Williams have been eliminated from the 2026 US Open women's doubles tournament after their first-round defeat. The sisters' performance, however, showed they remain highly competitive and capable of delivering memorable moments on the big stage.

While their doubles run has ended, Serena Williams is now looking ahead to a possible singles comeback in 2027. Fans and commentators are already speculating about her preparations and future appearances.

What to watch

The main question now is whether Serena Williams will successfully return to singles competition in 2027, as she plans. Observers will be watching for updates on her training and any announcements about her participation in future tournaments.

Written from 12 outlets' coverage of this story. Every timeline entry links to the original report.

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