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Boulter and Williams Advance in Women's Doubles at Madrid Open

4/26/2026, 1:36:45 PM

First-Round Win Over Jiang Xinyu and Xu Yifan

British player Katie Boulter and American seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams secured a place in the second round of the women's doubles at the Madrid Open. The pair, playing together for the first time, overcame China's Jiang Xinyu and Xu Yifan after dropping the opening set, winning 4-6, 6-3, 10-7.

Recent Form and Context

Boulter entered the tournament having been eliminated from the singles draw on Friday. Williams is on an 11-match singles losing streak and recorded her most recent doubles win at the US Open in September. Their collaboration at Madrid marks Williams’ first doubles victory since that US Open title.

Player Profiles

Katie Boulter – A British professional tennis player on the WTA Tour who exited the singles draw on Friday.

Venus Williams – An American veteran, 45, with seven Grand Slam singles titles, still competing in singles and doubles. Her recent singles results have faltered.

Match Data and Statistics

Match score: 4-6, 6-3, 10-7.

Opponents defeated: Jiang Xinyu and Xu Yifan of China.

Williams’ singles losing streak: 11 consecutive matches.

Last doubles win for Williams: US Open, September (year not specified).

Upcoming opponents: Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and American Sofia Kenin.

Official Statements and Responses

Boulter described the partnership as a privilege and noted initial nerves that were alleviated during the warm-up. She emphasized a collaborative mindset focused on enjoyment and positivity. Williams expressed satisfaction with the pairing, characterizing the experience as “meant to be” and highlighting Boulter’s energetic presence on court. They emphasized that a smile and collaborative energy were central to their performance.

Verbatim Quotes

“It was nice to play and it was meant to be,” — Venus Williams, American tennis player

“She has great energy - I don't even know if Serena [Williams] has this energy.” — Venus Williams

“Everyone came out here for an absolute icon,” — Katie Boulter, British tennis player

“I had nerves coming in this morning but you [Venus] calmed me down in the warm-up.” — Katie Boulter

“I had nerves coming in this morning but you [Venus] calmed me down in the warm-up. We just enjoyed it. We had the mindset of going out with a smile on our face.” — Katie Boulter

Upcoming Second-Round Opponent

The victorious duo will face the team of Hsieh Su-wei from Taiwan and Sofia Kenin of the United States in the second round. Their performance in this forthcoming encounter will determine whether they continue their progress in the tournament.

Conflicting Reports and Gaps

No discrepancies or missing information were identified within the provided source material.