Serena Williams and her sister, Venus lost in the first round of doubles play at the US Open.
The sisters were defeated by the Czech duo of Linda Nosková and Lucie Hradecká in the first round of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
The Williams’ decided to give it one last whirl four years after their last slam appearance together and six years on from the most recent of their 14 titles.
But the old magic was not quite there and they fell to a 6(5)-7 4-6 loss to the Czech duo of 37-year-old Lucie Hradecka and 17-year-old Linda Noskova.
“I think we did a very good job, and I’m so sorry for you that we beat them, but we are so happy we did it,” Hradecká said to the 23,000-plus fans in an on-court interview moments after the match.
It was the first time she had teamed with Nosková in doubles.
The Williams duo started well and had two set points with a 5-4 lead in the first, but the Czechs fought back.
Hradecká and Nosková also trailed in the tiebreaker but won the last four points.
They appeared to have a commanding 4-1 lead in the second set, but Venus and Serena were able to win three consecutive games to tie it up.
But the Czechs held serve to go up 5-4 then broke Serena in the final game with Hradecká hitting a backhand at the net in between the sisters for the match winner.
The 23-time grand slam singles and 14-time doubles champion is still set to play against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović in the third round of the singles draw on Friday.
Venus Williams, 42, lost in the first round on Tuesday. She has not announced her future tennis plans.
On Wednesday, Serena defeated Anett Kontaveit 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2 in singles play.
It was Williams’ fourth match since announcing in Vogue magazine she will “evolve away from tennis” after the US Open.
If they do both leave the sport this year, they will do so having amassed 48 Grand Slam titles (singles, doubles and mixed doubles) as a family and holding a perfect mark in doubles finals (14-0).
They also won three Olympic gold medals in doubles and each won a singles’ gold.
(CNN/AFP)