NEW YORK – Venus Williams has joined the quarterfinals of the US Open Women’s Doubles with Leila Fernandez and is now hoping that her old partner will return. She said it was time for Serena Williams to come to watch the game.
Williams pleaded that her sister “appear” after she and Fernandez defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4 in the third round match in front of the ability crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“She was so happy for Layla and me, and she gave us advice,” Williams said. “We need her in the box, so my message is, ‘Serena, you need to show up.’ ”
Williams and Fernandez will face the top seed teams of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Senior Kova on Tuesday.
The Williams sisters won 14 major championships together. She definitely sees, even if Serena chooses not to attend.
“She told me about Pep and made me call today. I said, ‘You’re right. I got it.
“She’s definitely coaching from afar. She’s so excited. She’s so nervous. She’s looking at the kids. They’re all at home and really by our side.”
Venus said she was sent a video of two nie screaming her name after watching the match.
Williams and Fernandez didn’t play together until last week when they received a wildcard entry to the field in a Grand Slam tournament. They are currently 3-0 and have not lost a set in the process.
“We’re on the same wavelength and hopefully we can continue doing that,” Williams said.
I waited to see the stands packed into Louis Armstrong Stadium and see Williams and Fernandez, a 45-year-old American and a 22-year-old Canadian.
“I’m totally confident in Venus. I hope she has total confidence in me during our match,” Fernandez said. “We’re just going out and playing the game. We’re offensive, aggressive, and ready for the ball.”
Venus calls Fernandez the best partner other than Serena. She joked that Serena had no advice for Fernandez, runner-up in the singles in the 2021 US Open.
“So I think you’re playing perfectly,” Venus told her partner at a press conference.
Serena has not played since the 2022 US Open. If she returns to Flushing Meadows, Venus sounds as if she expects her to bring a racket.
“If she came, it would be a dream for both of us and we’d take her to court coaching,” Venus said. “We forced her to hit her despite her not being hit frequently. It’s probably the best she won’t come because she was being bullied.”
