Serena and Venus Williams lose first doubles match since 2022 U.S. Open

Serena and Venus Williams, the world-renowned tennis sisters, made their return to U.S. soil by competing in doubles at the Cincinnati Open, marking their first match since early summer. In a grueling first-round contest against Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns, the Williams sisters fell short, losing 6-2, 1-6, 1-0(8). This represents the duo's fourth match and Venus's first on a hard court since their triumphant return to the second chapter of their illustrious career in June.

Four years after announcing her intention to "evolve away" from tennis following the 2022 U.S. Open, the 23-time Grand Slam champion resumed her journey on grass courts. She and Canadian rising star Victoria Mboko won a doubles match at Queen’s in London and concluded their expedited grass-court season with a first-round singles defeat at Wimbledon to Maya Joint.

While the sisters were set to team up for doubles at Wimbledon, they were forced to withdraw before their first match due to Serena's knee injury, which she sustained while playing against Joint. Currently, Serena has not disclosed her intentions for the U.S. Open, where she will face singles and either of the doubles events. However, if she decides to participate, she could potentially capitalize on the three wild-card entries available for the mixed doubles tournament.

On Monday, the Williams sisters appeared rusty as they trailed early in the first set, 2-1, against their opponents. Although their reaction times were sluggish, the sisters soon found their rhythm, showcasing their powerful strokes when given the opportunity. They quickly overcame their sluggish start, winning the first three games of the second set as their timing and shot selection improved.

In the decisive 10-point tiebreak, the Williams sisters started trailing 6-0 before rallying to secure an 8-5 lead after Kostyuk faced two double faults. Serena then stepped up to serve, delivering a powerful performance that kept the sisters in contention, trailing 9-8. However, Venus ultimately lost the match with a double fault.