Venus Williams has publicly called upon her sister, Serena Williams, to attend her US Open doubles matches with partner Leylah Fernandez. This comes amidst buzz about a potential reunion of the Williams sisters at the Australian Open.
Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez have formed a formidable partnership in the women's doubles at the US Open. The pair received a wild-card entry into the tournament and have advanced to the quarterfinals without dropping a set. They secured a win against the 12th-seeded team of Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai. Their success has captured the attention of fans and prompted Venus to playfully urge her sister Serena to come and watch them play. "She's so happy for Leylah and I, and she's given us advice,” Venus said. “We just need her in the box. So, my message is, 'Serena, you need to show up'". Venus and Leylah are scheduled to face the top-seeded team of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova in the quarterfinals.
The Williams sisters have a decorated history as a doubles team, having won 14 major championships together. Venus has even referred to Fernandez as her best partner besides Serena. Serena, who retired from professional tennis at the 2022 US Open, has been supportive of her sister and Fernandez, offering advice and encouragement from afar. Venus mentioned receiving a pep talk from Serena and a video of her nieces cheering them on. Serena also posted a video on TikTok expressing her support for Venus and Leylah.
The possibility of Serena's return to the court has been a topic of speculation. Some believe that watching Venus compete might reignite Serena's passion for the game. Venus and Serena won three Olympic gold medals in doubles competition. When Serena retired, Venus said she had also retired from doubles, but she changed her mind in 2025. She played doubles with Hailey Baptiste at the Washington Open in the month prior, reaching the quarterfinals.
The partnership between Venus and Fernandez brings together experience and youth. Williams, a seasoned doubles player with 22 titles, brings her expertise to the court, while Fernandez, a former US Open runner-up in singles, adds her talent and energy. Venus and Fernandez have developed a strong chemistry, which Williams compares to the intensity she felt playing with Serena. They have demonstrated their ability to overcome challenges, such as their comeback in the first round against Ellen Perez and Lyudmyla Kichenok.
