In their first tournament together in four years, and possibly their last, the sisters
Serena and Venus Williams They fell this Thursday in the first round of doubles at the US Open against the Czechs Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova.
Like old times
The Williamses revived the couple that came to monopolize 14 Grand Slam trophies in doubles but this time they were surpassed by the Czechs 7-5 (7/5) and 6-4 on the center court of Flushing Meadows (New York), in a less intense atmosphere than in this week’s Serena matches.
The elimination allows Serena Williams to focus on the singles competition at the US Open, which she will resume on Friday against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic, number 46 in the world ranking.
At almost 41 years old, Serena has announced that she is counting down her career but is reluctant to confirm if the farewell will take place in this Grand Slam. Venus, 42, was eliminated in the first round and has not yet clarified how long she will continue to compete.
On Thursday night, the Williams appeared to a standing ovation on the Arthur Ashe court, the largest in the world (23,800 spectators), without the tributes or the parade of celebrities that accompanied Serena this week.
Against Hradecka, 37, and Noskova, 17, the Americans started with a 4-5 lead and two failed set points. The Czechs salvaged the situation and once again lifted a 4-5 deficit in the ‘tie-breaker’ to advance put a set away to the disappointment of the American public.
Without the tension that it could be the end of the career of Serena Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slam titles, the central public was digesting the close defeat when the Czechs took a 3-0 lead in the second set.
The Americans, in a fit of legendary combativeness, made one last reaction, returning the break to tie it 4-4 and even had a ball to break the Czechs’ serve again. But this time Hradecka and Noskova avoided a new feat in the Arthur Ashe and finalized the elimination of the local stars.
AFP
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