NEW YORK – Venus Williams’ first grand slam tournament for two years ended on Tuesday when she and Leylah Fernandez lost to the top-seeded duo of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova in the US Open Women’s Doubles quarterfinals to the top-seeded duo of 6-1, 6-2.
When the match ended 56 minutes later at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Williams walked over to the net to shake hands with Senior Kova and hugged Townsend. Thousands of spectators rose to give Williams a standing ovation. Townsend and Senior Kova then joined in, praising Williams.
“For me and my sister, growing up watching Venus and (her sister) Serena,” Townsend told the crowd. “It was an honor to share the court today.”
Seniorkova called Williams “legend” and said it was “privilege” to play against her.
45-year-old Williams previously came out in the first round of both singles and succumbed to Karolina Muchova in three sets – and finished mixed doubles. She had finished the competition for 16 months before returning to play in a tournament in Washington in July. Her most recent major tournament was the 2023 US Open.
“What I’m most proud of is that getting out of the bench isn’t easy. It wasn’t really, and I’ve never had a layoff that long. It brought new challenges that I wasn’t prepared for so many ways. “Maybe I didn’t get there this time, but I know who I am and I know I can work if I get a little chance.”
She wasn’t sure about plans for the future, but she made it sound like she was planning to play again.
Fernandez, 22, from Canada, was a 2021 singles rechner up in New York, said:
Williams and Fernandez received wildcard entries from the American Tennis Association and did not lose sets in the first three matches of their team’s debut.
Currently ranked number one in doubles, Townsend is an experienced duo who won Wimbledon and the Australian Open in 2024. Siniakova has won a total of 10 Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles.
Of course, Williams holds 14 Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles along with Serena, who left the professional tour in 2022.
The older Williams brothers won seven major singles championships and two more major doubles in mixed doubles.
She was the oldest player in singles draw at the US Open since 1981.
Townsend’s time on Flushing Meadows continues with female doubles after converting eight match points in the fourth round of Barbora Krejcikova and being knocked out of the single.
“It was a tough game, but in the end I left everything on the court, and that was the only thing I and my team could ask for,” Townsend said. “I really feel like such a match defines moments and opportunities. You can either go up or down.”
Townsend was also in the spotlight for a tense postmatch exchange of words with Jelena Ostapenko after the singles match.
In the doubles semi-finals, Townsend and Senior Kova meet fourth seeded, Veronica Kudametova and Elise Mertens. The other semi-finals are Sarah Elerani and Jasmine Paolini, the second against the third Gabriella Dabrowski and Erin Rootliff.
Kudermetova and Mertens won Wimbledon last month. Errani and Paolini won the French Open in June.
