Serena and Venus Williams lost their first doubles match together since the 2022 US Open at the Cincinnati Open on August 17, 2026. The sisters were defeated by Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns with scores of 2-6, 6-1, 10-8 in a deciding 10-point tiebreak [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
The Williams sisters, aged 44 (Serena) and 46 (Venus), received a wild card entry into the doubles draw for the tournament [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. After falling behind 6-0 in the tiebreak, they staged a comeback from 8-2 down but ultimately lost on a double fault by Venus [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
The pair last played doubles together at the 2022 US Open. Serena had recently returned to doubles competition in June 2026 but was ruled out of doubles at Wimbledon in July after sustaining a knee injury in singles play. Serena described the injury as "a little traumatic experience, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" [1, 2, 5].
Venus competed in singles at Cincinnati but lost 6-2, 6-2 to Emiliana Arango on the same day [2, 3, 4]. Despite losing her last 13 singles matches, Venus has found more success in doubles recently [1].
At their peak, the Williams sisters won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals together, a testament to their dominant partnership over the years [1, 2, 3, 4, 6]. Serena said after the match, "I thought it was fun, it was special, it was good. We were starting to feel it, and it was really fun. It was really cool to be able to do this again." Venus added, "We've waited a long time to get back on the doubles court. Eventually, we find our way to each other. We give each other so much grace and encouragement" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Serena also noted the limited nature of their comeback, saying, "This is not forever. It’s… not long. We don’t have to play every week. It’s a bit different" [6].
