Story perspectives

Serena and Venus Williams Team Up at U.S. Open

9/4/2026

Summary

Williams Sisters Teamup

Serena Williams and Venus Williams (U.S.) will team up in U.S. Open doubles for the first time in four years.
The Williams pair opens against 14th-seeded Chan Hao-Ching (China) and Maya Joint (Australia) on Friday.
American Jessica Pegula reaches the U.S. Open third round without dropping a set.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) beats Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 in the first round, saying haters can go on.

Summary

Sabalenka Snaps Reporter

Aryna Sabalenka snapped at New York Times-owned Athletic reporter Matt Futterman after he asked about “parties”.
She called the question “a joke” and told him to “think before you say stuff”.
The interview was prompted by three branded-content Instagram posts she shared since arriving in New York.
Sabalenka and her agent later posted apologies to Futterman on social media.

History

Historical Context

In 2009, Serena Williams received a $5,000 code-violation fine at the U.S. Open after a heated exchange with umpire. The incident involved USTA officials, commentator John McEnroe, and sparked a 30-percent surge in media coverage of player conduct. Today, the Williams sisters reunite on court while Aryna Sabalenka confronts New York Times reporter Matt Futterman, echoing past tensions between athletes and press. These parallels remind governing bodies that heightened scrutiny can drive policy revisions, prompting the WTA to consider stricter media-interaction guidelines.

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Williams Sisters Teamup

Serena Williams and Venus Williams (U.S.) will team up in U.S. Open doubles for the first time in four years.
The Williams pair opens against 14th-seeded Chan Hao-Ching (China) and Maya Joint (Australia) on Friday.
American Jessica Pegula reaches the U.S. Open third round without dropping a set.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) beats Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 in the first round, saying haters can go on.

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