The 2025 US Open keeps turning out jaw-dropping stories, but the doubles run of Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez might be the most feel-good and electrifying of them all. At 45, Venus isn’t just showing up; she’s playing like she never skipped a beat. With every serve and volley, she reminds us of the timeless class and power that made her a household name. Their straight-sets victory over 12th seeds Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai—6-3, 6-4—sent them sailing to the quarterfinals, a round Venus Williams hasn’t reached in doubles since that 2016 Wimbledon win alongside sister Serena.
In this post, we’re breaking down their amazing ride, the secret sauce fueling their success, and what the future may hold for this unforgettable duo.
An Unexpected Power Duo
Team Venus Williams and Leylah started the tournament as one of the biggest surprises—the kind of wildcard entry you can’t help but root for. The ginormous age gap of 23 years—between the 45-year-old American legend and the Canadian arrived in 2002, a year after Venus snagged her first US Open doubles trophy—looked more like trivia than a problem, until you see them work their magic together. Many joked the age gap might dull the on-court conversation, but the chemistry between the two quickly turned skeptics into believers.
Yet, instead of faltering like others would, they rose and snatched worry away from the crowd, flying through every point with dazzling teamwork and purpose. Three matches in, not a single set against them falls, and they already made headlines by swatting down the No. 6 seeds, Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez, like they were paper targets. The energy between them crackles, the competitive fire of Leylah Fernandez matched step for step by the legendary Venus Williams. Fernandez flits to the net, returns with a defiant flick, while Williams harnesses her trademark, lightning-fast serves, each one sped past 100 MPH.
The Secret Weapon: Remote Coaching from a Legend
But the biggest assist isn’t even on the same court. That honor goes to the 23-time Grand Slam kickstart, Serena Williams, who sits at home, face aglow from the screen instead of arena lights. Nodding along with every rally, she droplets encouragement from the other end. Venus Williams teased the secret to the press earlier: “Definitely, she’s coaching from afar,” confirming her sister’s nerves to them, sharing snippets of program family brunches with her own kids, Olympia and Adira, already shouting “Let’s go, Auntie!” from their tablet seats. That tiny, cozy living room coach’s box whispers volumes of sisterhood, a dazzling tribute to the days when the duo won 14 Grand Slam doubles trophies together.
In a TikTok clip that had everyone doubting if they were still watching tennis or a comedy show, Serena Williams pretends to surreptitiously roll her eyes as her sister walks onto the court with a new doubles buddy, @leylahanniefernandez. The caption stretches it perfectly: “When you peep @VenusWilliams has a new doubles partner, you’re kinda salty, but deep down you love watching her crush it with someone new.”
Talk about a sisterly shade upgrade! Even with that cheeky jab, Serena’s still her No. 1 fan. Venus didn’t hold back either. On-air, she tossed a “Hey, winners need a cheer squad, GoreTech or not. Serena, the boxes are waiting, so hit ‘em!” Talk about sibling sparring at the literal highest level.
Review of Their Journey to the Quarterfinals
Here’s a simple table showing how Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez got to the quarters:
| Round | Opponents | Seeding | Score | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Round | Lyudmyla Kichenok / Ellen Perez | No. 6 | 7-6(4), 6-3 | Upset over higher-ranked seeds |
| 2nd Round | Ulrikke Eikeri / Eri Hozumi | Unseeded | 7-6(1), 6-1 | Saved early break points and won 7 tiebreaks |
| 3rd Round | Ekaterina Alexandrova / Zhang Shuai | No. 12 | 6-3, 6-4 | Controlled match from start to finish |
Coming Up: Quarterfinal Battle with the Top-Seds
The fairytale gets harder. In the next round, Venus Williams and Leylah will face the top seeds, Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend. This is a heavyweight battle between two wildcards and the best-ranked pair, making for a sizzling quarterfinal.
Siniaková arrives as the defending doubles champion and a Grand Slam star, while Townsend has been on a tear. Even Venus Williams noticed the heat, saying, “I think it’ll be so fun… Taylor’s had a great tournament. She’s been really fun to watch. I feel like the whole world is watching her.” She also mentioned teaming up with Fernández means they’ll “just try to do our thing.”
Set for Louis Armstrong, this match will start no earlier than 4 PM NY time, and it’s already a can’t-miss. The bleachers will be packed, and the atmosphere will be electric as the crowd rallies around the “never count us out” story, urging Venus Williams and her partner toward yet another storied upset.
Beyond the Wins: A Legacy of Inspiration
Venus Williams’s journey goes way beyond the scoreboard. Leylah Fernández calls it a front-row seat to the champion mindset. She continually insists that she’s a “sponge,” soaking in every lesson the icon shares, every practice routine perfected, every quiet court-side word of wisdom. The wisdom today will fuel tomorrow’s future stars long after the nets come down.
“Watching you still light up a match with that same giant smile you had years ago is the kind of energy that pushes me to fight for every point,” Leylah Fernandez told Venus Williams during their on-court chat. “The way you treasure this game is a gift to all of us.” Off the mic, Leylah shared how her circle is all for this growth. “The coaches and even my parents keep saying, ‘Wow, you’re leveling up just by being with Venus, soaking up every lesson.’ It feels unreal to call a living legend my mentor,” she said.
Venus Williams is lighting up a whole new court of fans, too. Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champ, had her own dose of inspiration. “Seeing Venus still glide out there is the sort of magic we rarely appreciate. I can’t believe she still serves those big aces and moves like someone just starting out. I watched her match and was just grateful that this legend is still showing us every single day how it’s done,” she said.
The Future and a Lasting Impact
Whether the next round becomes another highlight or the curtain falls, what Venus Williams has accomplished is already legendary. She has shown that a birthday cake doesn’t decide an athlete’s flame—what fuels it is the heart and the love of the sport. Her run at this year’s US Open won’t just be remembered; it will teach every future player that the joy of competing is a title no one else can award you, and it lasts a lifetime if you let it.
This year isn’t just another chapter; it’s another epilogue. Every round rewrites the already remarkable story written by Venus Williams and her sister, Serena. A reporter asked her the other day how doubles shaped that story. Venus replied, “Doubles was everything for us. We couldn’t dream of skipping a Grand Slam. Those trophies felt huge—like family heirlooms on the trophies shelf.
They were our way of saying, ‘We belong here, period.’ Now I’m back in the same shoes, and, let’s be honest, doubles can be the perfect ‘hello’ and the perfect ‘goodbye’ all at once. It’s the start and sometimes the graceful exit you never planned.” And it is the answer that reminds us that this story can flip in an instant, yet the final paragraph may be a tournament a rookie wrote off way too early.
Right now, the whole tennis community is holding its breath, waiting to see if Serena will hear the call to maybe show up on the sidelines to cheer for Venus. Whatever happens, the tale of Venus Williams at the 2025 US Open is already a chapter for the ages—a stunning proof of why she’s loved and admired not just on the court, but everywhere sports are celebrated.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/02/sport/tennis-us-open-venus-williams-doubles-intl
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