Williams sisters unfortunately lose in doubles return match at US Open

The Williams sisters lost 1-2 (3-6 7-6<8-6> 6-7<7-10>) to Chan Hao-qing (Taiwan) and Maya Joint (Australia) in a close match for 3 hours and 2 minutes in the first round of the women's doubles at the 2026 US Open (total prize money: $108 million) held at Flushing Meadows in New York on the 4th (local time).

The Williams sisters, who won the second set tiebreak, overcame the 1-4 disadvantage in the third set and took the game to a 10-point tiebreak.

However, even after leading 5-0 in the tiebreak, they were unable to maintain the lead, and both players committed double faults and ended up falling 7-10.

The Williams sisters returned to the doubles team at the Cincinnati Open last month for the first time in about four years since the 2022 US Open, and received a wild card for this tournament, standing together on the US Open stage for the first time in four years.

Their doubles first round was unusually scheduled as a night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and about 23,000 spectators filled the stadium.

The Williams sisters participated in the U.S. Open women's doubles together 10 times, including this tournament, recording a total of 27 wins and 8 losses.

They reached the top in the 1999 and 2009 tournaments, and Serena won the US Open singles title six times and Venus twice.

The two reached the women's doubles finals at major tournaments 14 times and won all of them without losing once. In singles at major tournaments, Serena has reached the top 23 times and Venus has reached the top 7 times.

They also won gold medals in women's doubles at the 2000 Sydney, 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London Olympics.

"It's really special to be able to play against tennis legends. They're both my idols," said Joint, who defeated the Williams sisters, after the match.

Women's singles world number one Arina Sabalenka (Belarus) defeated Kamila Rakhimova (92nd, Uzbekistan) 2-0 (6-3 6-4) to advance to the round of 16.

Sabalenka is attempting to win three consecutive U.S. Open women's singles titles for the first time since Serena Williams in 2012-2014.

Sabalenka will face Taylor Townsend (96th, USA) in the round of 16.

Jessica Pegula (3rd place, USA), the 2024 tournament runner-up, came from behind to win 2-1 (1-6 6-4 6-3) even after losing the first set to Leila Fernandez (33rd place, Canada).

Pegula's opponent in the round of 16, who is attempting to win her first major tournament, is Sorana Crstea (17th place, Romania).

Carlos Alcaras (Spain), ranked 3rd in the world in men's singles, defeated Wu Yibing (113th ranked, China) 3-0 (6-3 6-4 6-1).

Alcaras, who won the US Open last year and the Australian Open this year, continued his 17-game winning streak in major tournaments.

Aiming for his second consecutive title and third overall title, he will face Tommy Paul (21st place, USA) in the round of 16.