Serena and Venus Williams returned to doubles competition together for the first time since the 2022 US Open, falling to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in a three-set thriller at the Cincinnati Open. The scoreline was reported differently across accounts of the match, with one version listing it as 6-2, 1-6, 10-8 to Kostyuk and Stearns, while another recorded it as 2-6, 6-1, 10-8 in the American pair's favor. Either way, the result ended with a deciding match tiebreaker that the Williams sisters nearly stole after trailing 6-0.
According to a Cincinnati Enquirer report, the match was scheduled for Grandstand Court on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. ET. The sisters ultimately could not close out the comeback, with a double-fault from Venus Williams sealing their exit and marking their first appearance together in a non-grand slam event since the 2016 Italian Open.
What did the Williams sisters say about the reunion?
Serena Williams described the experience as enjoyable despite the loss, saying the pair had shaken off some early rust as the match progressed.
"I thought it was fun," Serena said. "I thought it was special. We kicked off a little rust in the middle of the match and just, you know [were] starting to feel it. I didn't come out here to win this tournament. Winning is obviously great. But in this position just, you know, having fun. It was really cool to be able to do this again."
Venus Williams, 46, echoed her sister's sentiment, framing the reunion as something that felt inevitable.
"Eventually we would find our way to each other," Venus said about the decision to play doubles again. "It's our first time playing together in forever. It was great for us to get out there and do it."
How did the sisters end up back on court together?
Serena Williams, 44, had not competed on tour since 2022 before returning to action this summer. The pair had originally intended to play doubles together at Wimbledon, but Serena withdrew after injuring her knee during a singles match at that tournament. Their Cincinnati doubles entry came via a wild card, which, according to the WTA Tour's official site, was announced on Aug. 3 and billed as their first pairing since the 2022 US Open. Separately, the tournament's own announcement noted that Venus also received a singles wild card for the event, while Serena's entry was limited to doubles.
What happens next at the Cincinnati Open?
The women's doubles draw continues through to the final, which, per an Olympics.com schedule overview, is set for Aug. 22, with the quarterfinals having been slated for Aug. 20 following the round of 32 on Aug. 16-17. The Williams sisters' exit means they will not feature in the later rounds, but their appearance has renewed attention on whether the pair will reunite again in future tournaments.
Key Facts
- Serena and Venus Williams played doubles together for the first time since the 2022 US Open.
- Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns won the match in a deciding tiebreaker after the Williams sisters rallied from 6-0 down.
- The match was held on Grandstand Court on Aug. 17, according to a Cincinnati Enquirer report.
- Venus Williams also held a singles wild card for the tournament, while Serena's entry covered doubles only.
- The women's doubles final at the Cincinnati Open was scheduled for Aug. 22.
