Venus Williams achieved her first women's doubles victory at the U.S. Open since 2014, partnering with Leylah Fernandez to overcome the sixth-seeded team of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez. The dynamic duo secured a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory on Thursday, marking a significant milestone for the 45-year-old Williams.
The match, held at a nearly-full Louis Armstrong Stadium, saw Williams and Fernandez become instant fan favorites. The chair umpire had to repeatedly request the excited crowd to quiet down, highlighting the electric atmosphere. Spectators erupted in a standing ovation after Williams and Fernandez clinched the opening tiebreaker, a set they had trailed 5-2. The enthusiasm continued as they cheered the pair to victory at the match's end. Chants of "Here we go, Venus, here we go!" reverberated through the stadium, and a banner proclaimed, "Welcome to the Williams show".
In an on-court interview, Williams expressed her gratitude, stating, "Wow, thank you, you guys. Thank you for showing up for us". She also lauded her 22-year-old partner, Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open singles runner-up, as "the best partner I ever played with — outside of Serena".
This win marks Williams' first women's doubles victory in New York since she and her sister Serena reached the quarterfinals in 2014. It is also her first Grand Slam women's doubles win since the 2018 French Open. The Williams sisters last won a major women's doubles title at Wimbledon in 2016, the last of their 14 major championships in women's doubles. Venus Williams also boasts seven Grand Slam titles in singles and two in mixed doubles.
Williams had been away from the tour for 16 months before returning to play singles and doubles in Washington in July. At Flushing Meadows, she experienced a first-round loss in mixed doubles and singles. However, she received a wild card for women's doubles, paving the way for her triumphant return. In singles, Williams battled fiercely against 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova, ultimately losing in three sets. Thursday's doubles match was Williams' first at a major since the 2022 U.S. Open, which was Serena's final tournament.
