The outcome hardly appeared to matter.
Enjoying collectively for the primary time since 2022, Serena and Venus Williams returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday night time for what was most likely essentially the most hyped first-round Grand Slam doubles match in historical past.
The legendary sisters finally fell to No. 14 seeds Maya Joint and Chan Hao-Ching, who performed valiantly in a 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(7) victory that lasted three hours and two minutes.
The 2-time US Open champions and 14-time Grand Slam doubles champions had been greeted by thunderous applause from a packed home, and the unbelievable ambiance solely grew because the night time went on.
The sisters began nicely sufficient however dropped the ultimate three video games of the opening set. Within the second, they battled via a razor-thin contest, lastly changing their fifth set level within the tiebreak as the gang roared its approval at seemingly each constructive flip.
Then got here a wild third set.
Serena and Venus rallied from 4-1 down and had three break factors at 4-4 that would have put them in place to serve for the match. After these possibilities slipped away, they raced to a 5-0 benefit within the deciding match tiebreak, solely to see that lead disappear as Joint and Chan accomplished the comeback.
Nonetheless, the lasting reminiscence gained’t be the loss.
At 44 and 46, Serena and Venus — 14-time main doubles champions who additionally gained three Olympic doubles gold medals collectively — gave Arthur Ashe Stadium one other magical night time.
For these fortunate sufficient to fill the stands, it was unforgettable. Years from now, they’ll nonetheless have the ability to say they noticed the Williams sisters play collectively on the US Open.
