Serena and Venus Williams will face Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan in the first round of the US Open women’s doubles championship, according to an announcement by the United States Tennis Association. The opening match of the tournament begins Thursday.
Wimbledon Rematch and Injury Context
According to the Associated Press, the 44-year-old Serena played as a wild card in singles at Wimbledon earlier this year, where she lost in the first round to Maya Joint. That match ended with a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 defeat and left Serena with a knee injury. The physical toll forced her to withdraw from her planned doubles match at the All England Club alongside 46-year-old Venus, keeping the sisters apart on the Grand Slam stage for a bit longer.
US Open History and Recent Doubles Play
The Williams sisters captured the US Open doubles title twice in 1999 and 2009. Across nine appearances as a pair at the tournament, they boast a 27-7 record, according to the Associated Press. Their last appearance together at the US Open came in 2022, when they dropped a first-round match to Linda Nosková and Lucie Hradecká, in what was expected to be Serena’s final match in Flushing Meadows. The pair reunited on the court on Aug. 17 at the Cincinnati Masters, dropping a tight first-round thriller to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns.
Did you know? The Williams sisters received a wild card entry into the main field for the 2026 US Open doubles championship, placing them directly into a tough opening bracket against the No. 14-seeded team of Joint and Chan, as reported by the Associated Press.
Draw Landscape and Seeded Competitors
The broader women’s doubles field features fierce competition at the top. Taylor Townsend and Kateřina Siniaková hold the tournament’s No. 1 seed, looking to improve on last year’s result where they fell in the final to Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, according to tournament reports. This year, Routliffe is partnering with Aldila Sutjiadi as the No. 9 seed, while Dabrowski teams up with Luisa Stefani as the No. 2 seed. Meanwhile, Serena has already kept busy in New York this fortnight by teaming up with Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles to reach the quarterfinals, while Venus dropped her first-round singles match to Sofia Kenin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Serena and Venus Williams playing in the first round of the US Open doubles?
According to the United States Tennis Association, the Williams sisters will face Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan.
When does the women’s doubles tournament begin?
According to the Associated Press, the first round of the women’s doubles tournament begins Thursday.
Have the Williams sisters won the US Open doubles title before?
Yes, according to the Associated Press, the Williams sisters won the US Open doubles title in 1999 and 2009.
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