Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez delivered a dazzling doubles debut at the US Open, rallying from a rocky start to upset sixth-seeded Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez 7-6 (4), 6-3 at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
NEW YORK — The moment looked unlikely at the outset as Williams and Fernandez found themselves trailing 5-2 in the first set on a windy, flags-wrapped day in Queens. But the pairing refused to budge, storming back to force a tiebreak and then seizing control to take the opening set. The unseeded duo carried that momentum into the second, jumping ahead 4-1 and closing it out with authority in a performance that had the raucous crowd buzzing from start to finish.
Fernandez, who is already through the third round in singles, admitted she leaned on instinct and trusted Williams at the net and from the baseline. “I just wanted to go out there, play, and I had full confidence with Venus at the net and even in the baseline,” she said with a smile after the win. Williams, meanwhile, spoke about the on-court chemistry, noting that she naturally takes a lead role as the more experienced player but that Fernandez’s growing game balanced the partnership.
The match marked Williams’s first doubles victory in Queens in 11 years. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion previously won the doubles title here in 1999 and again in 2009 with her sister Serena. On Thursday, the veteran was complemented by Fernandez’s rapid ascent and fearless shot-making, a combo that paid dividends in a big-match atmosphere.
The duo earned a spot in the second round by earning a wild card into the doubles draw on Tuesday and will face Eri Hozumi and Ulrikke Eikeri on Saturday as they push for another deep run.
What this shows is a fresh catalyst in Williams’s late-career chapter: a willingness to pair with rising talents and still play with the edge and clarity that fans remember from her peak years. For Fernandez, the win is another milestone on a breakout summer that has seen her compete confidently with the game’s elite, both individually and alongside one of her idols.
Summary: Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez combined veteran savvy with rising energy to stun the seeds in a dramatic US Open doubles debut, signaling a promising early chapter for their partnership as they head into the next round.
Notes and value-add:
– Wild-card entrants can create exciting noise in big events, and this matchup illustrated how experience and fearless, high-energy play can disrupt a seeded team.
– Williams’s longevity and adaptability in doubles, including past success in Queens, highlight how veterans can reinvent themselves by partnering with younger talents.
– The wind and crowd energy played a tangible role, adding to the drama and showcasing the tournament’s electric atmosphere.