Venus and Serena Williams turned back the tennis clock at the 2026 Cincinnati Open, taking Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk and local star Peyton Stearns three-sets deep in a first round women’s double clash on Monday (17 August).
Falling two points shy of advancing to the second round, the Williams sisters showed hints of their previous dominance. Playing their first match together since the 2022 US Open, they ceded the contest in three sets: 6-2, 1-6, 10-8.
Having received a wildcard entry into the tournament often seen as a warm-up for the US Open – one of tennis’ four Grand Slams – they’d hoped to feed off the fans’ energy and advance further in the Queen City.
But there wasn’t to be coronation upon their doubles debut and return, as Kostyuk and Stearns eliminated them from the draw.
Controlling the first game, the duo with a smaller cheering section regrouped after a difficult second and held tough in the third to see off the Williams sisters.
They’ll play No. 3 seeds Kristina Mladenovic and Hanyu Guo in the next round.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/cincinnati-open-2026-venus-serena-williams-fall-short-doubles-tennis
