Serena and Venus Williams Reunite for U.S. Open Doubles After Daughter’s Plea
POLICY WIRE — New York, USA — The legendary partnership of Serena and Venus Williams is returning to the U.S. Open doubles court this Friday evening, marking their first appearance as a team at the...
POLICY WIRE — New York, USA — The legendary partnership of Serena and Venus Williams is returning to the U.S. Open doubles court this Friday evening, marking their first appearance as a team at the tournament in four years.
The reunion was sparked by a request from Serena’s 9-year-old daughter, Olympia, who urged her mother to compete alongside her aunt.
Speaking on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Serena recalled how Olympia calmly told her, You need to play with Auntie VeVe. Serena noted that while her daughter does not speak often, she listens when Olympia does, leading her to agree to the match.
Venus Williams expressed her excitement about the pairing during a recent interview, which took place shortly after her singles match concluded at 2 a.m.
The sisters, now 44 and 46 years old, possess a storied history at the U.S. Open. Serena has claimed six singles titles there, while Venus has won two, including a 2001 victory over her sister.
As a doubles duo, they secured two of their 14 combined Grand Slam trophies at Flushing Meadows, winning in 1999 and 2009. Their last U.S. Open appearance together was a first-round exit in 2022.
The upcoming match is scheduled for a high-profile night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, featuring a DJ and cocktail service to match the spectacle of the event.
They are set to compete against Chan Hao-Ching of Taiwan and Maya Joint of Australia. Joint previously beat Serena in a singles match at Wimbledon.
For many spectators, the result is secondary to the sight of the sisters returning to the court. Nonie Green, a 58-year-old fan from Arlington, Virginia, noted that while time eventually catches up to everyone, she is thrilled to see them play regardless of the outcome.
Green emphasized the importance of the sisters as role models, stating they are good for women and specifically for Black women.
The return follows Serena’s 2022 Vogue essay where she described “evolving away from tennis” to focus on expanding her family, as Olympia desired a sibling.
Serena told “Good Morning America” that she wants her children to witness her competing at a different stage of her life.
She expressed hope that she can demonstrate to her daughters that any goal is achievable at any age through dedication and hard work.
Beyond this doubles match, Serena indicated that a return to singles competition is likely in the near future.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
