Serena Williams will rejoin the US Open women’s doubles draw alongside Venus Williams after the pair received a wildcard from the United States Tennis Association. For Serena, this is more than a reunion with her sister. It marks a return to the highest level of doubles competition, with her form, match sharpness, and tactical evolution under scrutiny.
At 44, Serena hasn’t played a Grand Slam doubles match since the 2022 US Open, which also marked her last major event before stepping away from professional tennis. Her doubles resume is staggering: Serena and Venus have captured 14 major doubles titles together, including two in New York. Their last Grand Slam trophy as a team came at Wimbledon in 2016. The Williams sisters have never lost a Grand Slam doubles final.
Recent results, though, underscore the challenge ahead. Serena’s competitive return came in doubles at Queen’s Club in June, but a knee injury sustained in singles forced her out of the Wimbledon women’s doubles. At Queen’s, she lost in three sets to Australia’s Maya Joint in singles, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3. The match showed flashes of resilience but also highlighted the physical demands of elite play at her age.
Mixed Doubles Metrics and Tactical Questions Ahead of US Open Women’s Doubles
Serena’s most recent match practice at the 2026 US Open came in mixed doubles, where she partnered Carlos Alcaraz. They won their opening round against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool, 5-3, 4-1, but fell in the quarter-finals to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli. The run ended before the semifinals, raising questions about Serena’s doubles-specific movement and net reflexes. Her baseline power still makes an impact, but defending and transitioning at the net looks more vulnerable than in her prime.
Cincinnati offered another test. The Williams sisters lost a tight three-setter to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns. Match data from that contest showed Serena’s serve could still dominate in stretches, but both sisters struggled at times to handle aggressive returns and passing shots. Serena’s serve-and-volley instincts will be tested against the more baseline-oriented doubles teams now common on tour.
Since 2016, Serena’s doubles appearances have been rare. The pair played just three Grand Slam events as a team in the past decade: the French Open in 2018, the US Open in 2022, and now their 2026 return. With so few matches, it’s hard to spot trends, but available data points to declining match fitness and a need for tactical adjustment against younger, more active pairings.
| Event | Year | Result | Notable Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wimbledon | 2016 | Champions | 6/6 in finals as a team |
| French Open | 2018 | Early round exit | Low 1st serve % |
| US Open | 2022 | Early round exit | Reduced break point conversion |
| Cincinnati | 2026 | First round loss | 3-set match, serve games lost |
Venus Williams, now 46, brings her own recent results. She reached the quarter-finals of the US Open doubles last year with Leylah Fernandez, losing to the top-seeded team of Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend. That run, which included wins over several high-ranked teams, shows Venus still covers the court well and reads the game at a high level. Serena’s match rhythm, after a limited 2026 campaign, remains the bigger question.
The Williams sisters are set to begin their US Open campaign on Thursday, September 3, or Friday, September 4. Their undefeated record in Grand Slam finals remains unmatched. Yet the numbers from recent seasons point to a steeper climb toward another title. Serve consistency and net play will likely decide how far this latest wildcard bid can go.
