Serena Williams abruptly left the US Open after losing a women's doubles match with sister Venus on September 8 on Arthur Ashe court, leaving behind Venus who stayed to go to the locker room. According to reports, Serena walked out of the stadium into a car without participating in a post-match press conference, as required by Grand Slam rules if requested by media. The USTA declined to fine the Williams sisters for skipping the press conference, citing discretion. This decision has sparked suggestions that there may be favoritism towards the sisters due to their reputation and past relationships with the organization.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Serena and Venus Williams, two tennis legends, returned to the U.S. Open court together for the first time in 4 years. They played in the women's doubles tournament at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night, but lost in a thrilling three-set match against Maya Joint of Australia and Hao-Ching Chan of Taiwan, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-8). The Williams sisters mounted an epic comeback, forcing two tiebreakers, but ultimately fell short. This was the second consecutive grand slam that Joint has played spoiler, having knocked Serena out in the first round of Wimbledon's ladies singles on Centre Court earlier this summer.
It had been a highly anticipated return for the Williams sisters, who have won the U.S. Open women's doubles championship twice before, in 1999 and 2009. Serena returned to tennis this year after a four-year layoff due to injury, and this marked her second loss to Joint this summer. The match was played in front of a packed and passionate crowd, with many celebrities in attendance, including Mr. Beast, Anna Wintour, and Andy Dalton.
After the match, Serena "fled the scene" without participating in a post-match press conference, leaving behind her sister Venus, who stayed on to talk to reporters. The USTA did not fine the sisters for skipping the press conference, but it is a code violation to skip out on media obligations without an excuse such as injury or illness.
Written for “US Open Women's Doubles Upset” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 6882 (medium confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-07
After coming back into the tennis spotlight, Serena Williams went out with an Irish goodbye at the US Open.
asserted
Williams → come → Open
After Williams lost a thrilling first-round women’s double match alongside sister Venus Williams to Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint on Friday night, she “fled the scene”, according to “Bounces” voice Ben Rothenberg.
uncertain
she → lose → Rothenberg
Serena walked off the Arthur Ashe court and out of the stadium into a car, leaving behind Venus, who stayed on the ground and went to the locker room as is the standard.
asserted
who → walk → room
In doing so, the sisters did not participate in a post-match press conference.
asserted
sisters → do → conference
Per the Grand Slam rulebook, a post-match press conference is required of all players if requested by media.
asserted
conference → require → media
The sisters had been requested, as a pair, by many reporters through the US Open’s media operations system.
Yet, within minutes of the match ending, the USTA sent credentialed media a message.
asserted
USTA → request → message
“Serena and Venus Williams will not be available for press tonight,” it read.
asserted
it → read → press
The next day, the USTA told “Bounces” that neither Serena nor Venus will be fined for skipping out on the media.
asserted
Serena → tell → media
Skipping a press conference without excuse such as an injury or illness is a code violation.
asserted
Skipping → skip → injury
It would be up to the discretion of the US Open to issue a fine and they chose not to sanction the two stars despite Serena’s exit.
asserted
they → issue → exit
Rothenberg estimated about 15-20 times when the Williams sisters did not show up to a post-match press conference and only some came with fines, which are normally at Grand Slam events.
asserted
which → estimate → events
One instance was a $5,000 fine that Venus was hit with for skipping out on the press after a first-round loss at the Australian Open in 2016.
asserted
Venus → hit → 2016
The USTA’s decision lends the idea there is a sense of favoritism for the Williams sisters and that the organization doesn’t see a reason to sour its relationship with them.
asserted
organization → lend → them
The sisters previously spoke to reporters in Cincinnati after their first-round doubles loss last month.
asserted
sisters → speak → loss
Venus also spoke to the media after her late night first-round singles loss in Queens.
asserted
Venus → speak → Queens
Questions remain on both Serena and Venus’ futures as their time at the US Open ended on Friday.
asserted
time → remain → Friday
