The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, have been knocked out of the Cincinnati Open in their first doubles match after losing to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns 6–2, 1–6, 10–8 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
In the first set, Kostyuk and Stearns started strongly, hitting the ball hard and moving well at the net, while Serena and Venus took some time to find their rhythm. Kostyuk and Stearns won the set 6–2.
In the second set, Serena and Venus played much better. They hit stronger shots, moved better together, and put more pressure on their opponents, winning the set 6–1 and forcing a deciding match tiebreak. The tiebreak was very close and exciting. Kostyuk and Stearns quickly went 6–0 ahead, but Serena and Venus fought back strongly and brought the score to 8–7.
The Williams sisters then saved a match point, making it 9–8, but Kostyuk and Stearns won the next point to take the match 10–8. The final point came after a double fault from Venus.
Addressing the media, Venus said, We’ve waited a long time to get back on the doubles court. Eventually, we find our way to each other.
“We give each other so much grace and encouragement.
“This is our first time playing together in forever, and I think we’re really getting [into] our stride.”
Kostyuk and Stearns will face Kristina Mladenovic and Guo Hanyu in the round of 16, with both teams meeting for the first time in a doubles match. Although the two pairs have never faced each other, there is already some history between the players.
Stearns has played against Mladenovic and Guo before, losing with Eva Lys to the pair 1–6, 6–2, 5–7 in the first round of the 2026 French Open. Kostyuk has also faced Guo in doubles, losing with Elena-Gabriela Ruse to Guo Hanyu and Aleksandra Panova 5–7, 6–4, 6–7(6) at the 2025 Australian Open.
