Venus Williams is making her mark at the US Open once again.
Teaming up with 22-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez, Williams pulled off a surprising 6-3, 6-4 victory against the 12th-seeded pair of Zhang Shuai and Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round of doubles play. This win propels them into the quarterfinals, just three matches away from claiming a Grand Slam title.
Williams/Fernandez Take Early Control for Commanding Win
The duo quickly established dominance by breaking serve for a 2-0 lead in the first set. After a brief setback where Zhang and Alexandrova leveled the game, a critical return from Williams allowed them to break again, finishing the set on their serve at 6-3.
The second set mirrored the first, with Williams and Fernandez breaking early. Though they faced another break from their opponents, they regained control with another break at 4-3 before closing out the match on Williams’ serve.
Post-Match Comments
In her post-match interview, Williams expressed gratitude towards the audience at Louis Armstrong Stadium, saying, “We can feel your energy… you lift us up during tough moments.”
Similarly, Fernandez, who is 23 years younger than Williams, praised her, saying, “Seeing you play with that same big smile is incredibly inspiring and motivates me to keep going.”
A Remarkable Return for Williams at 45
As a 14-time Grand Slam doubles champion, including two titles at the US Open, Williams is shining in her first doubles outing without her sister, Serena, since her retirement. This marks her best Grand Slam doubles performance since winning Wimbledon with Serena in 2016.
Fernandez, who was a finalist at the 2023 French Open and the 2021 US Open, aims to replicate her previous successes alongside one of tennis’s greats.
Sisterly Advice
The duo is clearly finding their rhythm on the court, often receiving advice from their sisters. Williams shared a moment where both she and Fernandez received the same tip from their respective siblings during the match.
Post-match, the pair have developed a celebratory routine, allowing Williams to showcase her iconic twirl and wave, followed by Fernandez taking her turn in the spotlight.
Could Serena Make an Appearance?
Serena has been watching her sister compete from home, humorously commenting on Williams’ partnership with Fernandez during a TikTok video. On Monday, Williams extended an invitation for Serena to cheer them on in person, saying, “We just need her in the box.”
This Wednesday’s quarterfinals promise to be exciting as Williams and Fernandez are set to face either the top-seeded pair of Fernandez’s former partner Taylor Townsend and Kateřina Siniaková, or the unseeded duo of Camila Osorio and Dayana Yastremska.
