Serena and Venus Williams lose US Open doubles return

Serena and Venus Williams have been eliminated from the US Open doubles draw after losing their first-round match in New York. The defeat ended Serena’s return to Grand Slam competition alongside her sister, but it does not by itself settle whether she will continue playing after the tournament.

The Australian-Taiwanese team of Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan, seeded 14th, won 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 in three hours and five minutes. The Williams sisters took the second-set tiebreak 8-6 after missing two set points at 5-4, then recovered from 1-4 to level the deciding set. Joint and Chan eventually prevailed 10-7 in the final super tiebreak, having led 5-0 and 6-4 before the Americans fought back. Serena and Venus combined for 10 double faults.

The match marked the sisters’ first US Open appearance together in four years, since Serena announced her retirement. Serena returned to competition in June and will turn 45 later this month, while 46-year-old Venus remains active on the WTA circuit. Together, they have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. Serena is also due to consider the Asian swing, leaving her next step after this brief comeback uncertain.