Williams Sisters Return to Doubles After Four-Year Hiatus
Legendary sisters reunite on court despite loss, marking emotional return to competitive play together.
The update
Serena and Venus Williams played their first doubles match together since the 2022 U.S. Open, losing 2-6, 6-1 (10-8) to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns at the Cincinnati Open. The sisters nearly recovered from a 6-0 deficit in the match tiebreaker before Venus Williams’ double-fault ended their first doubles appearance in a non-Grand Slam event since 2016.
Why it matters
The return of the Williams sisters to doubles competition represents a significant moment in women’s tennis. Serena, 44, had been off the tour since 2022 before returning this summer. Their appearance as wild cards at Cincinnati comes after they were forced to withdraw from Wimbledon earlier this year due to Serena’s knee injury. The duo has won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles together, a record that highlights the magnitude of their reunion.
What to watch
Will the Williams sisters continue playing doubles together? Serena mentioned she didn’t come to win but to have fun, suggesting this might be part of a new approach to their tennis careers. Their next moves could impact the doubles landscape and potentially influence Serena’s singles schedule.
Sources
- espn.com — match details, quotes from Williams sisters
- dpa international — context about their return timeline and previous plans
- dpa international — context about their return timeline and previous plans
