Williams Sisters Return to Doubles at Cincinnati Open

Serena and Venus Williams teamed up for their first non-Grand Slam doubles appearance since the 2022 U.S. Open at the Cincinnati Open. Entering as wild cards, they faced the 24-year-old duo of Marta Kostyuk (Ukraine) and Peyton Stearns (Cincinnati suburb of Mason). After dropping the opening set 2-6, the sisters rallied to take the second 6-1 and forced a match tiebreak. Kostyuk and Stearns ultimately prevailed 10-8, sealing the win with a double-fault from Venus that ended the contest.

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Serena described the experience as “fun” and “special,” emphasizing that she did not come to Cincinnati to win the tournament but to enjoy playing again after a two-year hiatus from the tour.

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The Williams sisters have amassed 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, 22 total doubles titles, and three Olympic gold medals as a team. Individually, Serena holds 23 singles Grand Slam crowns, while Venus has seven. Their last doubles outing at a non-Grand Slam event dates back to the Italian Open in 2016.

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• “I kind of expected it but it stung a little bit that this is my hometown,” — Peyton Stearns

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Other notable results from the same session included defending champion Iga Swiatek rallying from a set down to secure her eighth consecutive win, Elena Rybakina defeating Magdalena Frech, Jessica Pegula overcoming Emma Navarro, and Alexander Zverev recording his 46th match victory of the season.

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