Australian rising star Maya Joint has once again spoiled a highly anticipated Serena Williams comeback, teaming up with Taiwan’s Hao-Ching Chan to knock Serena and Venus Williams out of the US Open women’s doubles in a dramatic first-round upset at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Playing before a packed and enthusiastic crowd, Joint and Chan produced a remarkable comeback to defeat the legendary sisters 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/7). The victory denied the Williams sisters a fairytale return to Grand Slam doubles competition and marked another memorable moment in the young Australian’s rapidly growing career.
The result continues a remarkable trend for Joint, who also ended Serena Williams’ campaign in the first round of the Wimbledon singles tournament earlier this year. Now, she has once again played the role of giant-killer on one of tennis’s biggest stages.
After dropping the second set in a tense tiebreak, Joint and Chan appeared firmly in control of the deciding set, building a 4-1 advantage. However, the Williams sisters, renowned throughout their careers for their fighting spirit, staged a determined comeback to force a deciding 10-point match tiebreak.
The Williams sisters share a legendary history at the tournament, having won the US Open doubles title in 1999 and 2009. Entering this year’s event, they held an impressive 27-8 record across their 10 previous appearances at Flushing Meadows.
Reflecting the significance of their return, the first-round doubles clash was awarded a coveted place in the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, a rare honor for an opening-round doubles match.
While the result marks an early exit for two of the sport’s greatest champions, it further highlights the emergence of Maya Joint as one of tennis’s brightest young talents, capable of producing headline-making performances on the biggest stages in the game.
After dropping the second set in a tense tiebreak, Joint and Chan appeared firmly in control of the deciding set, building a 4-1 advantage. However, the Williams sisters, renowned throughout their careers for their fighting spirit, staged a determined comeback to force a deciding 10-point match tiebreak.
Serena and Venus looked destined for victory when they surged to a commanding 5-0 lead in the tiebreak. But Joint and Chan refused to surrender, producing an incredible turnaround by winning 10 of the final 12 points. Crucial double faults from both Williams sisters shifted the momentum, allowing the Australian-Taiwanese duo to complete one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
The match marked the long-awaited return of Serena and Venus to Grand Slam doubles competition. The sisters had originally planned to reunite at Wimbledon but were forced to withdraw after Serena suffered a knee injury. Their comeback was subsequently delayed until the US Open in New York
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