Fans flooded social media to pay tribute to Serena and Venus Williams following their doubles first-round defeat at the US Open. Fans gave the Williams sisters a standing ovation as they left the court. The sisters agreed to give it one last try four years after their last slam appearance together and six years on from the most recent of their 14 titles. But they could not quite muster the greatness of the past as they fell to Czech pair Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova. The first set went to a tiebreak, with Hradecka and Noskova winning it 7-5, and they finished off the match with a 6-4 win in the second set.
It was likely the last doubles match of Serena's illustrious career, with the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion saying last month that she'll be "evolving away from tennis" after the US Open.
"I'm still in shock that we won because played the first time with each other," Hradecka said after the match, before apologizing to the Williams sister-favouring crowd. "I think we did a very good job, and I'm so sorry for you that we beat them, but we are so happy we did it."
Barring a change of heart, Serena has indicated she will leave the sport in the next 10 days. Venus' immediate future is unclear. She has taken a supportive role in Serena's farewell tour, one in the shadow of her younger sister.
While Serena's two victorious singles match at the US Open have been under the lights amid an atmosphere akin to a once-in-a-generation boxing fight, Venus' defeat to Alison van Uytvanck on Tuesday was in the midday sun in front of a half-full Arthur Ashe.
Individually, Venus, 42, has won seven titles while Serena, 40, has 23 to her name.
Serena will continue on in the tournament in the women's singles.
