{
  "id": 5703670,
  "title": "Venus and Serena Williams come up just short in dramatic US Open doubles return",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/venus-and-serena-williams-come-up-just-short-in-dramatic-us-open",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-05T03:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/venus-serena-williams-come-just-031000777.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Arthur Ashe Stadium hosted a familiar roar on Friday night, a sound that had accompanied the U.S. Opens for years. It was a night when Venus and Serena Williams graced the court together, marking their first return to prime time after four years apart. The sisters sparked excitement among the admiring crowd as they emerged from the tunnel, ready to showcase their prowess in doubles tennis once more. Despite their best efforts, Venus and Serena fell short in a dramatic return against Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan, losing 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-7 (7). The final set was decided by a first-to-10 tiebreak, and although the Williams sisters started strong by winning the first five points, they could only manage two more. Venus, 46, and Serena, 44, delivered a memorable performance, showcasing their at-times-vintage skills and contributing to the biggest highlight of the US Open so far. Joint commented on the significance of facing legends like the Williams sisters, stating, \"Being able to play against such legends of the game is super special.\" The Williams sisters have a combined total of 14 major doubles titles, including two at the Open in 1999 and 2009. However, this marked only the second time they had competed together since Serena's unexpected return to professional tennis this summer. Joint and Chan, the No. 14 seed, were the opposing team. Venus and Serena's performance was marred by rust, as they dropped the first four games of the match. Serena's returns were notably inconsistent, with several long shots that left her opponents with advantageous positions. Nevertheless, the sisters found their rhythm in the second set, holding serve throughout and dominating the majority of the games with hard-fought rallies. They managed to break Joint and Chan's serve only once in the second set, despite having multiple break points during the ninth game. The Williams sisters' errors proved costly, squandering their opportunities to turn the match in their favor. The second set went to a first-to-seven tiebreak, and while the Williams sisters took an early lead, they failed to capitalize on break points, ultimately losing the tiebreak. The third set saw Joint and Chan break the sisters in the fourth game, followed by a strong hold serve in the fifth game, giving them a 4-1 lead. Venus and Serena responded by winning three consecutive games, tying the decisive set at 4-4. However, in the ninth game, the Williams sisters went 0 for 3 on break points, allowing Joint and Chan to take the decisive set. A final tiebreak, a first-to-10, determined the match's outcome, and despite Venus and Serena's early lead, their performance ultimately faltered, ultimately resulting in a loss. Despite the disappointing ending, Venus and Serena left the court with smiles on their faces, knowing they had delivered an exhilarating night of tennis that nobody could have anticipated. The Williams sisters' return to doubles tennis at the US Open marked a memorable night in Queens, one that was especially significant for Serena, returning to the sport after a three-year hiatus. Her decision to return to the WTA Tour and compete in singles and doubles tournaments, including Wimbledon, demonstrated her resilience and determination to continue her tennis journey.",
  "summary": "NEW YORK — A familiar roar filled Arthur Ashe Stadium, one that had been a soundtrack to so many U.S. Opens before this. For the first time in four years on Friday night, Venus and Serena Williams took the court at Flushing Meadows together, renewing a prolific pairing that had long dominated the doubles circuit. An admiring Ashe crowd erupted as the sisters emerged from the tunnel, surely ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Serena and Venus Williams return to U.S. Open women's doubles tournament tonight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/serena-and-venus-williams-return-to-u-s-open-womens-doubles",
        "published": "2026-09-04T23:17:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Williams sisters exit US Open but excite - what does future hold?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/williams-sisters-exit-us-open-but-excite-what-does-future-hold",
        "published": "2026-09-05T04:09:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}