Williams Sisters Lose 7-6 (10-7) Thriller in US Open Return

Serena and Venus Williams exited the US Open women's doubles following a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7) defeat against Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint.

Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint defeated Serena and Venus Williams 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7) on Friday night in New York. The match concluded in a 10-point tiebreaker where the Williams sisters surrendered a 5-0 lead before ultimately falling 10-7 in the final frame. This exit marks the first time the pair competed at the US Open since 2022, a Grand Slam tournament they have won twice previously.

During the deciding set, the sisters overcame a 4-1 deficit to level the score and force the tiebreak. However, both Serena and Venus recorded double faults during the high-stakes 10-point sequence. This contest represented only the second time in their professional history that they played a deciding-set tiebreaker in a major doubles match, with the only prior occurrence taking place during the third round of the 2009 French Open.

Statistical Breakdown of the New York Return

The Williams sisters now hold a 27-8 career record across 10 appearances at this tournament. Their history of success in New York includes doubles titles earned in 1999 and 2009. Serena Williams, currently 44, returned to professional tennis this year, while Venus Williams, 46, has maintained her presence on the tour.

In the second set, the sisters secured a 7-6 victory by winning the tiebreaker 8-6. This momentum carried into the early stages of the third-set tiebreaker before the late-match collapse. The defeat on Friday night adds to a 2026 season where the duo had previously been forced to withdraw from doubles competition after Serena sustained a knee injury.

Head-to-Head Results and Joint's Dominance

Maya Joint has now defeated Serena Williams twice during the current summer season. Their first meeting occurred at Wimbledon, where the Australian competitor won a three-set singles match during Serena's return to play. The subsequent knee injury suffered by Serena during that period delayed the sisters' doubles return until this appearance in New York.

Chan and Joint capitalized on the late errors to advance, despite the Williams sisters playing what was described as brilliant tennis during the latter stages of the third set. The match lasted through three full sets, including two tiebreakers, before the final 10-7 scoreline was established in favor of the Chan-Joint pairing.

Historical Context of the Williams Partnership

Prior to this loss, the sisters had not appeared on the US Open doubles court for four years. Their 2026 campaign was specifically interrupted by physical setbacks following the Wimbledon tournament. Venus Williams continues her career as one of the oldest active players on the tour at 46 years of age, while Serena’s comeback at 44 has focused on both singles and doubles formats.

With this result, the Williams sisters' pursuit of a third New York doubles title ends. The match tiebreaker format, which saw them lose ten of the final twelve points after leading 5-0, served as the definitive factor in their elimination from the bracket. This performance concluded at 10:25 PM ET on September 4, 2026.