Serena and Venus Williams knocked out of US Open women’s doubles by Maya Joint, Hao-Ching Chan

Australian Maya Joint has again spoiled the part for the legendary Williams sisters, teaming up with Hao-Ching Chan to knock Serena and Venus out of the first round of the US Open women’s doubles.

In front of a packed and passionate crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Joint and Chan came from 0-5 down in the deciding 10-point tiebreaker to down the legendary sisters 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/7).

This is the second consecutive grand slam that Joint has played spoiler, knocking Serena out in the first round of the Wimbledon ladies singles on Centre Court.

After losing the second set in a tiebreaker, Joint and Chan were in control of the third set with a 4-1 lead, before the Williams sisters fought back. 

Serena and Venus looked set for a dream comeback win when they held a huge 5-0 lead in the first to 10. 

But both sisters double-faulted as Joint and Chan won 10 of the final 12 points to take the match. 

The Williams sisters were supposed to make their grand slam doubles return at Wimbledon, but had to pull out after Serena hurt her knee. 

That delayed their return to the Grand Slam stage until New York, where they won in 1999 and 2009 and are now 27-8 in their 10 appearances.

The match got a spot in the night session in Arthur Ashe Stadium — practically unheard of for first-round doubles.

The sisters were once dominant in women’s doubles, teaming to win 14 grand slam titles along with Olympic gold medals in 2000, 2008 and 2012. They shared the number one ranking in women’s doubles for eight weeks.

It appeared a first-round loss in 2022 was their last time together, with Serena stepping away from tennis that year after winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles. She came back this summer and now has two heartbreaking defeats with her older sister. They also lost in a match tiebreaker at the Cincinnati Open.

Venus Williams also lost in the first round of singles.

ABC/AP