When the US Open women’s doubles draw was officially released on Tuesday, much of the attention was on the comeback of the 14-time doubles Grand Slam champions Serena Williams and Venus Williams, aged 44 and 46. However, it won’t be a simple first-round match, as the draw has them facing the No. 14-seeded team of Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint. The matchup drew mixed reactions from fans as Serena has lost against Joint this year.
Fans Erupt as Venus and Serena Williams Draw Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan in US Open Doubles
Just months ago at Wimbledon, the 20-year-old Australian beat Serena 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 in the first round of her much-anticipated singles comeback. Serena also suffered a knee injury during the match, forcing the sisters to withdraw from their doubles reunion at the All England Club.
The sisters went on to reunite on court at Cincinnati, although they lost in the Round of 32. Now, they have come together again in Flushing Meadows, and fans on X reacted to the irony of the situation.
Many pointed out the pattern of Serena seemingly facing the same players repeatedly during her 2026 comeback.
Erin Routliffe is another player Serena has faced multiple times since her return during the grass-court season. She first played Routliffe at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club and then faced her again in Berlin, with different partners in each match. Serena won the first encounter alongside Victoria Mboko but lost the second while partnering Karolina Muchova.
The two met again at the US Open in mixed doubles, where Serena partnered Carlos Alcaraz. They faced Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool and came away with the victory in the first match.
One X user summed up the feeling by tweeting, “@VenusGauff Joint and Routliffe need to leave Serena ALONE! omg”
A fan also pointed out the same pattern, writing, “Lmfao Serena keep playing the same players. Joint in singles and now doubles, she’s played Routliffe 3x,” while another one chimed in, “@VenusGauff Serena will only play 5 people on rotation this comeback.”
Lmfao Serena keep playing the same players. Joint in singles and now doubles, she’s played Routliffe 3x https://t.co/bqDzGn0iDB
— Harm Reduction Casino (@HumpA_55) September 1, 2026
The coincidence in the draw left some fans speechless. One account simply posted, “no comment.”
no comment https://t.co/ZjLfyw7gpt pic.twitter.com/0UDLc8rHu3
— Serena’s snatched wig (@Danidilo2) September 1, 2026
However, a few believe the legendary duo, who have a 27-7 record at the US Open and won the doubles title in 1999 and 2009, can get their revenge.
One supporter wrote on X, “oh we gon be out for revenge. let’s go.”
At Flushing Meadows, the 23-time Grand Slam champion thrilled the fans by playing mixed doubles with Alcaraz. However, they lost in the quarterfinals to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, who defeated the star pair 5-4 (4), 4-1.
Venus, meanwhile, has remained active in singles but has now lost 15 consecutive singles matches after getting knocked out by Sofia Kenin in the first round.
