Chan Hao-Ching and Maya Joint ended Serena and Venus Williams' much-anticipated return to US Open doubles on Friday, 5 September, defeating the legendary American pair 6-3, 6-7 (8), 7-6 [7] in a gripping three-hour contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York. The result denied the Williams sisters a fairytale run at the tournament where they had last competed together as a doubles team four years ago.

How the Match Unfolded

Chan and Joint asserted early dominance, claiming the opening set 6-3 with relative comfort. The Williams sisters, however, refused to yield, lifting their intensity in the second set and keeping their opponents at bay through all 12 games before forcing a tiebreak.

Serena and Venus surged to a 5-3 lead in the breaker — Serena producing a clinical backhand volley winner to edge ahead — but Chan and Joint clawed back. Joint found an unreturned serve to make it 6-5, only for Serena to double fault. The Williams sisters ultimately converted on their fifth set point when Joint sent a forehand long, levelling the match and sending the crowd inside Ashe Stadium into a frenzy.

Decider Swings Both Ways

The third set opened with Chan and Joint racing to a commanding 4-1 lead, appearing to have seized the momentum decisively. But the Williams sisters responded with characteristic resolve, winning three consecutive games to level the set. Both pairs then held serve through the remaining games, pushing the match into a super tiebreak.

Serena and Venus made a near-perfect start in the breaker, sprinting to a 5-0 lead and appearing poised for a remarkable comeback. What followed, however, was a dramatic collapse — consecutive errors into the net and a Venus double fault at 6-3 allowed Chan and Joint back into contention.

Chan and Joint Seal a Stunning Comeback

From 5-0 down, Chan and Joint reeled off six consecutive points. Chan delivered a decisive volley winner on match point to complete one of the most dramatic victories of this year's tournament, moving the pair into the second round and ending the Williams sisters' return to New York doubles competition.

The 14-time Grand Slam doubles champions — one of the most celebrated partnerships in the sport's history — were left to reflect on a contest that came agonisingly close to producing the storybook result the packed stadium had hoped for.

What This Result Means

For Chan and Joint, the win is a statement: overcoming the weight of occasion and crowd pressure at one of tennis's most storied venues to outlast two of the greatest doubles players the sport has seen. Notably, the Williams sisters had not partnered at the US Open for four years before this appearance, making the occasion one of the most watched first-round doubles matches in recent memory. Chan and Joint now advance, carrying the momentum of a hard-fought super tiebreak win into the next round.