Rarely has a women’s doubles first-round match headlined the US Open night session – but the Williams sisters are like no other pairing.
Serena and Venus Williams might have a combined age of 90, but their star remains undimmed. As does their ability to compete at the highest level when they are in tandem.
Even though the superstar siblings – aged 44 and 46 – lost on their highly anticipated Grand Slam return, their performance in a narrow defeat by 14th seeds Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint led to an entertaining night in New York.
A packed Arthur Ashe Stadium roared on the American icons as they looked on course for a memorable win – but ultimately fell short in a 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (10-7) loss.
“It was unbelievable how competitive that was,” said American player-turned-commentator Chanda Rubin, who lost to the Williams sisters in the 1999 US Open doubles final.
“After the first set you wondered if Serena and Venus would be able to find their mojo – but, boy, they did.”
Four years after they last appeared on Ashe, the Williams sisters were given a rapturous reception as they strode on to a court where they have won eight singles titles between them and two doubles titles together.
“The siblings changed the face of the sport when they emerged as precocious teenagers in the 1990s, going on to dominate the sport with a combined 30 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 doubles victories as a pair.
Three decades later, the sport remains captivated by them.