Serena and Venus Williams were knocked out of the US Open in the first round of women's doubles, losing to 14th seeds Chan Hao-Ching and Maya Joint in a tight three-set match on Arthur Ashe Stadium. It marked the sisters' first Grand Slam doubles appearance together since 2022 and drew a rapturous reception from a packed crowd, underlining the enduring appeal of two players who transformed women's tennis over three decades and now face uncertain futures at the top level.

The match finished 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (10-7) to the American icons' opponents, with Serena and Venus fighting back from 4-1 down in the decider and leading 5-0 in the deciding tie-break before losing it 10-7. Serena, 44, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has hinted at a possible singles return, while Venus, 46, a seven-time major winner, says she need not decide on her future yet; neither addressed the question directly afterwards, declining media interviews. The defeat followed an earlier reunion loss in Cincinnati, after a planned Wimbledon pairing was scuppered by a Serena knee injury.