At the first round of doubles at the U.S. Open on Thursday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic defeated Serena and Venus Williams 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Before this match involving two American sisters who had combined to win 14 Grand Slam championships in doubles but were combining for the first time since the 2018 French Open, Ashe has never hosted a first-round doubles match — for women or men, during the day or night.
Their most recent loss in the first round of doubles at a Slam came at the 2013 French Open.
On September 1, 2022, in New York City, Serena and Venus Williams consult one another before to their women’s doubles match against Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova at the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Getty Pictures
As usual while they were playing together, they grinned while talking in their seats between changeovers and exchanged fist bumps or palm slaps. The sisters gave each other hugs once the game was over. They were applauded as they departed the court.
Just as with Serena’s two singles triumphs this week, an advertised sellout crowd of 23,859 attended. However, on Thursday, the audience was not nearly as raucous as they had been for those prior night matches featuring a player who has suggested that this may be her final tournament. Venus was defeated in the first singles match.
Serena will play Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium in an attempt to extend her winning streak in the singles division.