Venus Williams, Leylah Fernandez Upset No. 6 Seed in U.S. Open Women's Doubles Bracket

Venus Williams isn't done at the U.S. Open just yet.

The former star and partner Leylah Fernandez pulled off a stunning upset on Thursday, beating the sixth-seeded duo of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez, 7-6, 6-3.

It was a big moment for Williams, who struggled otherwise at the U.S. Open this year. She lost in the first round of the singles tournament against Karolína Muchová, 3-6, 6-2, 1-6.

"I think for me, getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthy," Williams told reporters following her first-round ouster in singles. "When you play unhealthy, it's in your mind. It's not just how you feel. You get stuck in your mind too. So it was nice to be freer."

"I knew going into this match that people in this stadium, people in the United States, people around the world, were really rooting for me, and that felt great," she added. 

She also fell in the Round of 16 during mixed doubles with partner Reilly Opelka, losing against the pair of Karolina Muchová and Andrey Rublev.

The 45-year-old was a seven-time Grand Slam champion in singles and 14-time Grand Slam champion in doubles, including two titles apiece in singles and doubles at the U.S. Open.

Injuries and the natural limitations of aging have impacted her in recent years, however. Her appearance this week at the U.S. Open was just her third tournament in 2025, while she only played twice in 2024. She's won just one singles match in that time and hasn't won a singles title since 2016's Taiwan Open.

But she showed she still has the goods in doubles, turning back the clock to pick up an impressive upset on Thursday. Up next is a matchup against Ulrikke Eikeri and Eri Hozumi in the second round.