US Open: Serena-Venus Williams’ Grand Slam comeback ends in heartbreaking 3-hour doubles thriller

Serena and Venus Williams came agonisingly close to completing a remarkable comeback before suffering a dramatic first-round defeat to 14th seeds Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan at the US Open on Saturday.

The Williams sisters lost 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-10 in a marathon three-hour, two-minute battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium, ending their first Grand Slam campaign together since 2022.

The American legends had appeared to be heading out when Joint and Chan moved 4-1 ahead in the deciding set. But Serena and Venus refused to give up, breaking back in the seventh game and holding serve to level the set at 4-4.

The sisters could not find another break, however, as Joint and Chan held their nerve to force a 10-point match tiebreak.

Serena and Venus then produced another stunning fightback, racing into a 5-0 lead and sending the Arthur Ashe crowd into a frenzy. But the momentum quickly shifted.

The Williams sisters struggled to maintain their advantage, with a couple of costly double faults allowing Joint and Chan to fight their way back. The 14th seeds steadily erased the deficit before completing the comeback 10-7 in the deciding tiebreak.

Williams sisters roll back the years

Joint and Chan made the stronger start, taking the opening set 6-3. Serena and Venus gradually found their rhythm, though, and forced a second-set tiebreak.

With the home crowd firmly behind them, the sisters held their nerve to win the breaker 8-6 and level the match.

Serena’s presence at the net again proved influential in the deciding set. The 44-year-old produced several sharp interceptions, showcasing the instincts that helped make the Williams sisters one of the most successful doubles partnerships in tennis history.

But despite twice recovering from difficult positions, the Americans could not complete the job.

Emotional US Open return

The Williams sisters’ return to Flushing Meadows was one of the major storylines of this year’s tournament. They had last played together at the US Open in 2022, when Serena made her final appearance before stepping away from professional tennis.

Four years later, the sisters reunited on the same court after receiving a wildcard for the women’s doubles draw.

Serena and Venus have won 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles together, including two US Open crowns in 1999 and 2009, along with four Olympic gold medals.

Their reunion had already generated excitement earlier this year when they teamed up at the Cincinnati Open for the first time since 2022, although that campaign also ended in the opening round.

In New York, they came much closer to extending their run. After dropping the opening set, they fought back to level the match and then recovered from 1-4 down in the decider.

Ultimately, Joint and Chan held their nerve in the match tiebreak to end the Williams sisters’ Grand Slam comeback — but not before the American icons delivered another memorable performance in front of a roaring Arthur Ashe Stadium.