A Night Unlike Any Other at Flushing Meadows
The US Open women's doubles rarely commands a prime-time night session slot, but Serena and Venus Williams are not a typical doubles pairing. Playing their first Grand Slam together since the 2022 US Open, the legendary siblings, aged 44 and 46, drew a roaring crowd of more than 20,000 fans to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night. Their return was four years in the making, and the reception they received matched every moment of the anticipation.
Despite their combined age of 90, the sisters showed they could still compete at the highest level, pushing 14th seeds Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint to a dramatic third-set match tiebreak before ultimately falling 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (10-7) in just over three hours. Chanda Rubin, herself a former opponent of the sisters in the 1999 US Open doubles final, captured the mood perfectly, noting how the pair rediscovered their form after a difficult opening set. The Williams sisters built a stunning 5-0 lead in the deciding tiebreak, only for their opponents to mount a remarkable comeback aided by double faults from both sisters.
Joint Completes a Remarkable Summer Against Serena
For Maya Joint, the 20-year-old Australian, the night carried extra meaning. She had already defeated Serena on Centre Court at Wimbledon earlier this summer before facing her again alongside Venus in the biggest singles atmosphere Flushing Meadows can offer. Joint described the experience as "surreal," adding that both Williams sisters were her idols growing up.
Questions about the sisters' futures remain unanswered. Serena has hinted at a singles return, while Venus remains noncommittal. The pair declined post-match media requests, leaving fans to wonder what comes next. TennisDraw users will want to keep a close eye on any future tournament entries from either sister, as bracket picks involving them never stay quiet for long.
