The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, made a much-anticipated return to the US Open in a women's doubles first-round match, but were defeated by the 14th-seeded team of Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint. The match, held at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, was tightly contested, with the Williams sisters losing 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (10-7). Despite their loss, the sisters received a warm and respectful reception from the crowd, who filled the stadium to show their admiration for the veteran players. Serena, 44, and Venus, 46, have won a combined eight singles titles and two doubles titles together, and their return to the court was seen as a significant moment in the tennis world. Serena had previously expressed interest in returning to singles play in an interview with Good Morning America, while Venus mentioned she would not feel pressured to think about her future beyond doubles. After their match on Friday, the sisters declined to speak to the media, as confirmed by the US Open organizers. Their return to the US Open was notable not only for their performance but also for the atmosphere they created, with the crowd showing deep respect by watching every point in silence. This respect was well-earned, as the sisters have combined for 30 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 doubles titles over the years, even during periods when they took breaks from the sport. Serena, a record 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, made a comeback this summer after retiring earlier in her career. Venus has continued her career with the help of occasional wildcards, allowing her to compete when she chooses. The sisters had planned to return at Wimbledon but were forced to withdraw after Serena suffered a knee injury during her singles match there. That match had ironically ended in defeat to 20-year-old Joint. They later reunited at the WTA event in Cincinnati, but their comeback ended in a tie-break loss to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns. The same outcome occurred in New York, continuing a pattern of first-round exits in their recent US Open appearances. In their match against Chan and Joint, the Williams sisters initially lost the first set but showed resilience by rallying in the second. They fought back in the third set, taking the match into a first-to-10 tie-break, where they had a commanding lead before ultimately faltering. Their performance was described as strong, with their solid groundstrokes and determination making it difficult for their opponents to gain the upper hand. Joint, one of the younger players in the match, called the experience surreal and expressed how special it was to play against two of the sport's greatest legends.