Venus and Serena Williams exit US Open doubles in first round

Venus Williams and Serena Williams concluded their run at the 2026 US Open after losing an opening-round doubles match. The contest lasted three hours and ended with opponents Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan winning a ten-point match tiebreaker in the third set. ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe noted that the sisters, who pioneered power tennis in the 1990s, now face opponents well-versed in handling that specific style of play. Despite the loss, reports surfaced regarding the future of Serena Williams on the professional circuit. ESPN analysts Caroline Wozniacki and Malika Andrews indicated that Serena Williams is preparing for a return to singles competition at a Grand Slam in 2027 once she recovers from a knee injury.

• 2:40 AMYahoo Sports — ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe identifies issue hampering Venus, Serena doubles comeback