Venus and Serena Williams’ US Open return ends in three-set loss

Venus and Serena Williams returned to the US Open court together Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time in four years. The legendary sisters had planned to reunite earlier this summer at Wimbledon, but Serena, 44, withdrew due to injury, according to organizers.

The sisters received a standing ovation as they entered the court. Serena’s jacket listed her US Open titles, including doubles championships she won with Venus in 1999 and 2009. Their opponents were Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and Australian Maya Jansen, who was just a toddler when the Williams sisters won their 2009 doubles title.

The opening set was competitive, but Chan and Jansen took it 6-3. The sisters responded in the second set, which went to a seven-point tiebreaker. Despite multiple opportunities to close it out, Venus and Serena fought back and ultimately won the set, sending the match to a decisive third set.

The crowd, largely supporting the sisters, erupted after every point. The match was a thrilling three-hour battle, with Williamses taking an early 5-0 lead in the final set before Chan and Jansen rallied to force a tiebreaker. Jansen and Chan ultimately won the match in a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10) thriller.

Despite the loss, the match showcased that the Williams sisters remain a formidable force on the court, reaffirming their status as tennis legends.

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