Associated Press Aug 17, 2026, 11:41 PM ET Cincinnati -- Serena and Venus Williams played their first doubles match together since the 2022 U.S. Open and lost a thriller 2-6, 6-1 (10-8) to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns on Monday night at the Cincinnati Open.\n\nThe sisters nearly recovered from a 6-0 deficit in the match tiebreaker before a double-fault by Venus Williams ended their first doubles appearance in a non-Grand Slam event since the Italian Open in 2016. They entered as a wild card. Serena had been off the tour since 2022 before returning this summer at age 44.

The sisters planned to play together at Wimbledon but withdrew after Serena injured her knee while losing her singles match.\n\n'Eventually, we would find our way to each other,' the 46-year-old Venus said about the decision to play doubles again. 'It's our first time playing together in forever. It was great for us to get out there and do it.' Kostyuk and Stearns, both 24, are playing in their first tournament together. After dropping the first set, the Williams sisters forced a match tiebreak.

Kostyuk and Stearns led 6-0, but consecutive double-faults by Kostyuk brought the Williamses within 8-7. It was 9-8 before Venus double-faulted. Venus and Serena have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and 22 total.

Serena has won 23 singles Grand Slam titles. Venus has won seven.