Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Williams Sisters Return to Doubles, Lose Close Cincinnati Open Match
Serena and Venus Williams are two famous sisters who are tennis legends.
They used to play tennis together as a team, which is called doubles.
They had not played doubles together in a very long time.
On Monday night, they finally played together again at a big tournament in Cincinnati.
Their match was very close and exciting, but they lost.
They almost made an amazing comeback, but Venus made a mistake at the very end.
Even though they lost, the sisters said they had a lot of fun.
They were happy just to be back on the court together.
The winning team, Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns, was playing together for the first time too.
The crowd cheered the loudest for the Williams sisters, but Kostyuk and Stearns still won.
Serena and Venus Williams returned to doubles for the first time since the 2022 U.S. Open, losing 2-6, 6-1 (10-8) to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns at the Cincinnati Open on Monday night.
The sisters nearly erased a 6-0 deficit in the match tiebreaker, but a double-fault by Venus Williams ended their comeback.
The Williams sisters have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals together.
Serena, 44, returned to the tour this summer after being off since 2022; the pair received a wild card for Cincinnati after withdrawing from Wimbledon due to Serena's knee injury.
Both sisters emphasized enjoying the reunion, with Serena saying she didn't come out to win the tournament and Venus noting they eventually find their way back to each other.
- Who
- Serena and Venus Williams lost to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns in doubles at the Cincinnati Open.
- What
- The Williams sisters' first doubles match together since the 2022 U.S. Open ended in a 2-6, 6-1 (10-8) defeat.
- When
- Monday night during the Cincinnati Open.
- Where
- Mason, Ohio, home of the Cincinnati Open.
- Why
- The sisters reunited for the enjoyment of playing together again, and their comeback attempt in the tiebreaker fell short when Venus double-faulted.
- Match Result
- Kostyuk/Stearns def. Williams/Williams 2-6, 6-1, 10-8 (match tiebreak)
- Event
- Cincinnati Open, Mason, Ohio
- First Doubles Match Together Since
- 2022 U.S. Open
- Ages
- Serena 44, Venus 46
- Grand Slam Doubles Titles
- 14 (22 total doubles titles)
- Olympic Gold Medals Together
- 3
- Singles Grand Slam Titles
- Serena 23, Venus 7
- Entry
- Wild card, after withdrawing from Wimbledon due to Serena's knee injury
