Serena and Venus Williams to Play Doubles Together at 2026 US Open

Serena Williams and Venus Williams are set to play doubles together at the 2026 US Open, according to The Guardian’s US sport roundup published August 26, 2026 — a pairing that marks one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent Grand Slam history and brings the legendary sisters back onto the same side of the net at Flushing Meadows.

The announcement, confirmed on August 26, adds a compelling subplot to a US Open already generating significant buzz around the singles draws. The Williams sisters, who have combined for 30 Grand Slam singles titles, have not played competitive doubles together at a Grand Slam in years. Their return to the doubles court at the year’s final major is being described by commentators as a landmark moment for the sport.

What We Know: The Williams Sisters at Flushing Meadows

The Guardian’s live US sport page, updated on August 26, 2026, listed the Williams doubles entry as one of the day’s top sports developments in the United States. The US Open begins its main draw in late August at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, where the sisters have each claimed multiple singles titles individually. Venus has won the US Open twice (2000 and 2001), while Serena has claimed the title six times — more than any other woman in the Open Era.

Together as a doubles team, Serena and Venus hold a remarkable combined record at Grand Slams, having previously won the US Open doubles title three times (1999, 2009, and 2012). Their re-entry into the doubles draw at Flushing Meadows is being interpreted by tennis analysts as both a celebratory moment and a genuine competitive effort.

Sky Sports Extends US Open Coverage as Female Audience Figures Surge

The Williams doubles announcement arrives alongside a separate but related development: Sky Sports confirmed on August 26 that it will extend its US Open broadcast contract, citing a notable boost in female audience figures. The broadcaster did not disclose specific viewership numbers, but the timing suggests the Williams sisters’ involvement is already generating commercial and media interest well ahead of match play.

The intersection of these two stories — the Williams sisters’ doubles draw entry and expanded broadcast coverage — underscores the tournament’s heightened profile this year. The US Open has consistently ranked among the most-watched tennis events in the United States, and the addition of a Williams doubles partnership is expected to drive further casual viewership.

The Williams Sisters’ Doubles Legacy at Grand Slams

To understand why this doubles entry is drawing such attention, context is essential. Serena and Venus Williams are widely regarded as the greatest doubles partnership in the Open Era of women’s tennis. Their Grand Slam doubles record together includes 14 major titles across the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. At the US Open specifically, they won the doubles three times across different eras of their careers.

Their re-entry into the doubles draw in 2026 has been met with widespread excitement across tennis communities. The story also intersects with the broader narrative surrounding the US Open’s singles draw, where Coco Gauff enters as a form player after her Cincinnati Open title, and the previously reported mixed doubles storyline involving Serena and Carlos Alcaraz.

Amanda Anisimova Speaks on Burnout and Mental Recovery

In a separate feature published alongside the Williams doubles announcement in The Guardian’s August 26 roundup, American tennis player Amanda Anisimova spoke candidly about her experience with burnout and her ongoing recovery. “I catch the signs a lot earlier now,” Anisimova said, in comments attributed directly to her in the Guardian’s coverage. Anisimova’s remarks offer a candid window into the mental health challenges facing elite players at the Grand Slam level — a dimension of the sport that has gained significantly more attention in recent years.

Anisimova, who previously withdrew from professional tennis citing mental health concerns before staging a successful return, represents a growing cohort of players who speak openly about the psychological demands of the tour. Her comments were published in the context of US Open buildup coverage, placing her story alongside one of the tournament’s most anticipated storylines.

Broader US Open Context: What’s at Stake in New York

The 2026 US Open begins its main draw in late August at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It is the final Grand Slam of the calendar year and typically determines end-of-season world rankings and year-end championship qualification. For several players, the results at Flushing Meadows will define their 2026 season in retrospect.

The women’s singles field enters with significant uncertainty following a competitive summer hard-court swing. The doubles draw, typically of secondary interest to casual fans, has been elevated in profile this year by the confirmed Williams sisters’ partnership — a development that is drawing coverage from outlets that do not typically lead with doubles tennis. The Guardian’s US sport page placed the story as its lead item for August 26, a strong signal of its broader news value.

SEC Athlete Policy and Other August 26 Sports Developments

Elsewhere in U.S. sports on August 26, Fox Sports reported that the SEC has announced a ban on athletes returning to college eligibility after signing professional contracts — a significant policy development with implications for the ongoing NCAA eligibility debate. Additionally, Front Office Sports reported on August 26 that ESPN is removing its BottomLine ticker from college football games, a format change that will affect how fans consume in-game information during the upcoming college football season, which begins this week.

In the NBA offseason, The Athletic reported on August 26 that Bennedict Mathurin has agreed to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-year, $16 million deal — with the second year as a player option. Mathurin, a former first-round pick, will join the Pelicans as his third NBA team, marking a significant roster addition for New Orleans ahead of the 2026-27 season.

What to Watch: Williams Doubles and US Open Schedule

The Williams sisters’ doubles matches at the 2026 US Open will be among the most closely watched events at Flushing Meadows. Tournament scheduling typically places marquee doubles matches on show courts — Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium — when demand justifies it, and the Williams partnership is almost certain to receive premium scheduling treatment.

For fans tracking the full US Open picture, the women’s singles draw, the Williams doubles, and the Anisimova mental health narrative together create a multidimensional story around the tournament’s opening days. Confirmed match schedules, draw results, and first-round scores will be available via the USTA’s official tournament site as the event progresses.

The tennis world’s attention is firmly fixed on New York. With the Williams sisters back on the doubles court together at a Grand Slam, the 2026 US Open is already delivering storylines that extend well beyond the baseline.

Sources

• The Guardian’s US sport roundup published August 26, 2026 — theguardian.com
• Front Office Sports — frontofficesports.com
• Serena and Venus Williams lose first doubles match since 2022 U.S. … — nytimes.com
• Serena Williams won’t play US Open singles, in doubles … — espn.com
• Serena, Venus Williams To Team Up Once Again At The U.S. Open — huffpost.com