Venus Williams’ US Open Ends With a Loss in the Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals to Taylor Townsend

Venus Williams’ first Grand Slam tournament in two years ended on Tuesday.

Venus Williams, of the United States, acknowledges the crowd after losing quarterfinal doubles match with parter Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, at the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York on Sept. 2, 2025. Heather Khalifa/AP Photo

NEW YORK—Venus Williams’ first Grand Slam tournament in two years ended on Tuesday when she and Leylah Fernandez lost in the U.S. Open women’s doubles quarterfinals to the top-seeded duo of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova 6–1, 6–2.

When the match finished after 56 minutes in Louis Armstrong Stadium, Williams smiled as she walked to the net to shake hands with Siniakova, then hug Townsend. Thousands of spectators rose to give Williams a standing ovation; Townsend and Siniakova then joined in, applauding for Williams.