Venus Williams’s journey at the US Open is far from over.
Williams, collaborating with her teammate, the 22-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez, achieved a significant victory with a score of 6-3, 6-4 against the 12th-seeded team consisting of Zhang Shuai and Ekaterina Alexandrova on Monday. This triumph in the third round of doubles competition at the US Open propels them into the quarterfinals, bringing them closer to securing a Grand Slam title.
For Williams, this triumph represents a resurgence in her doubles performance at the age of 45, following a 16-month break from professional tennis. Fernandez, on the other hand, views this as another opportunity to create an unforgettable chapter in her tennis career alongside a legendary figure.
Williams/Fernandez establish early dominance, paving the way for a decisive victory
Williams and Fernandez initiated the match by securing an early break, granting them a 2-0 advantage in the first set. Although Zhang and Alexandrova managed to break back, briefly regaining their serve, Williams responded with a powerful return, securing another break and establishing a 5-3 lead. Subsequently, Williams and Fernandez capitalized on their serve, successfully closing out the set.
The second set mirrored the dynamics of the first. Williams and Fernandez once again initiated the set with a break before Alexandrova and Zhang retaliated, leveling the score at 3-2. Undeterred, Williams and Fernandez broke once more, establishing a 4-3 advantage and ultimately clinching the match on Williams’s serve.
In a post-match interview, Williams beamed with delight while expressing gratitude to the supportive crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“I’m telling you, we can feel your energy,” she remarked. “It puts us up. Whenever we have a moment, whenever it’s not going perfect, you guys bring us up. So thank you so much.”
Fernandez, who is 23 years younger than Williams, shared her admiration for Williams, emphasizing her inspirational impact.
“Venus, I’ve said this like a million times,” she exclaimed while gazing at Williams. “Seeing you play on the court with the same big smile that you had back then, it’s so inspirational. It motivates me to keep going. I love that you love tennis.”
Williams demonstrates a resurgence in form at 45 years old
Williams boasts an impressive record of 14 Grand Slam doubles championships, including two victories at the US Open. All 14 of these titles were achieved in partnership with her sister, Serena Williams, another prominent figure in tennis. With Serena’s retirement, Williams is collaborating with Fernandez in doubles for the first time. Fernandez represents only the fourth doubles partner in Williams’s career, aside from Serena.
Before their first-round triumph this year, Williams had not secured a Grand Slam doubles victory since the 2018 French Open. By advancing to the quarterfinals, Williams has achieved her best performance at a Grand Slam doubles tournament since winning Wimbledon with Serena in 2016.
Fernandez reached the final of the 2023 French Open in partnership with Taylor Townsend. She also reached the final in singles at the 2021 US Open, marking her best-ever showing at a Grand Slam. Now, she aims to replicate the magic of that run in doubles alongside one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Support from Serena
The synergy between the two is evident on the court. Additionally, they both receive valuable guidance from their respective sisters.
“It’s so funny, because mid-match, I told Leylah, ‘I was like, you know, Serena’ — I’m not gonna tell you what she told me — ‘but she said I have to do this more.’ And then Leylah says, ‘My sister told me the same thing.’ The same exact advice.
“It’s so funny, we’re on the same wave length. And hopefully we can keep it going.”
The pair has also established a victory ritual. In what is becoming a post-match tradition, Fernandez defers the celebratory spotlight to Williams, allowing her to perform her signature twirl and wave to the enthusiastic crowd. Subsequently, Fernandez takes her own moment in the spotlight.
Will Serena attend the quarterfinals?
Serena has been watching from home and playfully reacted with an eye-roll to her sister’s collaboration with a partner other than herself in a TikTok video shared after Williams’s and Fernandez’s second-round victory.
On Monday, Williams extended an invitation to Serena to attend and express her feelings in person.
“She’s so happy for Leylah and I, and she’s given us advice,” Williams revealed. “We just need her in the box.
“My message is, ‘Serena, you need to show up.'”
Wednesday’s quarterfinal holds the potential to be a blockbuster event. Williams and Fernandez are set to face the victor of the match between the top-seeded team of Fernandez’s former American partner Townsend and Kateřina Siniaková and the unseeded team of Camila Osorio and Dayana Yastremska.
