Serena and Venus Williams: A Controversial Farewell at the U.S. Open

Controversy and a fine loom for the Williams sisters at the 2026 U.S. Open. Venus and Serena Williams, perhaps making their final appearance as players at the New York Grand Slam, sparked controversy with their behavior following their doubles loss to the pair of Australian Maya Joint and Taiwanese Chan Hao-ching.

The match ended 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 in a super tiebreak: the two sisters put on a show on the court but failed to show up for the scheduled post-match press conference. This move angered fans, journalists, and the United States Tennis Association itself, which could impose a hefty fine on them.

After the match, which ended with a standing ovation, Venus and Serena informed the federation that they would not be available and immediately left the venue. They could face a $50,000 fine, although the federation, given their track record, might decide to let them off the hook. The two athletes also made no statements on social media, limiting themselves to posting photos.

This isn’t the first time the Williams sisters have come under fire for this type of behavior. Back at Wimbledon last July, Serena caused a stir by refusing to hold the mandatory press conference after her first-round loss to Maya Joint. On that occasion, she limited herself to a spontaneous statement before leaving the sports center, prompting a reaction from Simon Cambers, president of the International Tennis Writers Association: “I was impressed by how hard she fought on the court. I was not impressed by the fact that she refused to hold her mandatory press conference. After receiving a wild card, this is unacceptable.”