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US Open: Serena and Venus Williams fall to dramatic third-set tie-break defeat against Maya Joint and Chan Hao-Ching in women's doubles first round TNT Sports on GoogleReact to this story Maya Joint said she was struggling to put into words the experience of facing her idol Serena Williams alongside her sister Venus as the Australian and Chan Hao-Ching prevailed 6-3 6-7(6) 7-6(7) in a first-round epic under the lights at Flushing Meadows. It ended the fairytale US Open comeback of the Williams sisters, who surrendered a 5-0 lead in the decisive and dramatic 10-point tie-break. Joint and Chan, the 14th seeds, took the opening set after breaking Serena's serve twice, but the sisters responded. Neither pair dropped serve in the second set before Serena and Venus took their opportunity at 7-6 in the tie-break, with Joint sending an overhead long on their fifth set point. Joint and Chan then moved 4-1 ahead in the third, only for the Williams sisters to win three straight games and force another tie-break. Serena and Venus raced into a 5-0 lead in the deciding 10-point breaker, but Joint and Chan recovered to win 10-7 in a mammoth contest that lasted three hours and two minutes. It was the first time the sisters had gone beyond 5-5 in a third set at the US Open since 2001, according to Sky Sports. "Being able to play against such legends of the game is super special," Joint said. "I'm lost for words to think of it. She's my idol, both of them. I grew up in Michigan, so I always looked up to them. Being able to play them twice is amazing. "The atmosphere was surreal. It was something we've never experienced before." The match was one of the most sought-after tickets in New York on Friday night, with a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium firmly behind the American pair. Joint and Chan had to maintain their focus amid the attention surrounding the sisters' return to the US Open women's doubles draw. The Williams sisters had looked capable of completing a sensational comeback when they led 5-0 in the final tie-break, but Serena's serve became a weakness at a crucial stage. Consecutive errors helped Joint and Chan close the gap before Chan completed the comeback with a volley. Joint, 20, had already beaten Serena in the women's singles at Wimbledon this summer. Serena suffered a knee injury during that match, ruling the sisters out of their planned doubles appearance at SW19. There were signs during Friday's contest of the partnership that has produced 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, with Venus' volleying and Serena's power repeatedly lifting the crowd. Serena and Venus were competing together at a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2022 US Open and 27 years after they first won the title in New York. Between them, they have collected 30 Grand Slam singles titles and three Olympic gold medals as a doubles partnership. The scale of Serena's achievements was also reflected in her choice of clothing before the match. - How 'growing up watching Serena' shaped Gauff's outlook on Grand Slams and world rankings - Sabalenka reveals secret weapon to 'distract opponents' after third-round win She warmed up in a bomber jacket with the dates of her US Open title victories embroidered on the sleeves, covering her successes in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Their defeat has brought another chapter of their latest comeback to a close, but it has not settled the question of what comes next. Serena, 44, returned to competitive tennis this summer after stepping away from the sport, but there have been suggestions she could seek another singles campaign next year. Venus, 46, has continued competing through wildcard opportunities. The sisters did not provide an update on their plans after Friday's match, while the US Tennis Association said Serena and Venus would not be available for comment. For Joint, the occasion was the culmination of a remarkable summer in which she has twice shared a court with Serena, first defeating her at Wimbledon and then helping to end the sisters' Grand Slam doubles return. Joint and Chan now turn their attention to the second round, where they will face Nicole Fossa Huergo and Tamara Korpatsch. Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this. Watch and stream top tennis action, including the 2027 Australian Open and 2027 French Open, live with TNT Sports on HBO Max