Williams And Fernandez Win Us Open Doubles Opener

US Open 2025

Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 September

Coverage: Live power commentaries crossed 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, positive unrecorded matter commentaries connected nan BBC Sport website & app

Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez claimed a daze triumph complete reigning champion Lyudmyla Kichenok and her partner Ellen Perez successful nan first information of nan US Open women's doubles.

Williams, 45, and Fernandez, 22, crushed retired a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 triumph against nan sixth seeds to advancement to nan 2nd round, wherever they will look Japan's Eri Hozumi and Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway.

Williams, a 14-time Grand Slam doubles champion, only accepted a wildcard invitation to partner Fernandez connected Wednesday, and they soon looked group for an early exit.

They trailed 5-2 successful nan first group aft losing 2 break points, but fought backmost pinch 2 breaks of their ain earlier winning nan group tie-breaker.

The power of that comeback carried complete into nan 2nd group arsenic nan American and Canadian duo collapsed to emotion successful nan 2nd crippled earlier redeeming 2 break points erstwhile nether unit successful nan third.

The group went pinch service until nan extremity erstwhile Fernandez - who was calved 3 years aft Williams won her first New York women's doubles title successful 1999 - served to emotion to unafraid victory.

Ukraine's Kichenok won nan women's doubles title past year alongside Jelena Ostapenko.

"We came successful and tried to fig things retired successful nan beginning," Fernandez said.

"Venus said nan astir amazing, astonishing strategy during a changeover: bring your power up. That decidedly helped.

"It was nerve-wracking, exciting," Fernandez said of playing alongside her tennis idol Williams.

"The nighttime earlier I was shaking, I was ace happy. You were ace bully and welcoming, that brought my nerves down, truthful convey you for doing that!"

On her partner, Williams said: "We play nan aforesaid style, I'm conscionable a small spot bigger, but we're a awesome team. She's nan champion partner I've had extracurricular of Serena."

Williams was besides fixed a wildcard to compete successful nan women's singles, and put successful an awesome performance against 11th seed Karolina Muchova earlier this week earlier yet losing successful a deciding set.

She won nan US Open women's doubles title successful 1999 and 2009 alongside younger sister Serena.

Fernandez, who mislaid to Great Britain's Emma Raducanu successful nan 2021 US Open final, is nan 31st seed successful nan singles tie and will play world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka successful information 3 connected Friday.