Serena and Venus Williams’ US Open doubles comeback ended in heartbreak Friday, losing a deciding match tiebreak after squandering a 5-0 lead against Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint, the ESPN reported.
The Williams sisters, who were making their first Grand Slam appearance together since 2022, were defeated in a three-hour first-round thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7).
Serena and Venus came back from dropping the opening set and clawed back from 4-1 down in the third to force a deciding tiebreak. Then they went up 5 – 0 before Chan and Joint won 10 of the next 12 points to finish the comeback.
“It was an amazing match,” Joint said. “They played really well, and I think just the atmosphere on the court. … I don’t think either of us has experienced quite like that before.”
The loss ended a much-anticipated reunion for the sisters who have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together including US Open titles in 1999 and 2009. They also took Olympic gold medals in 2000, 2008 and 2012.
Serena, 44, returned to pro tennis this year after a four-year hiatus and Venus, 46, is still touring. The sisters also fell in a match tiebreak at the Cincinnati Open last month.
