Venus Williams and partner Leylah Fernandez saw their unlikely run to the US Open quarterfinals end with a 6-1, 6-2 defeat against Taylor Townsend and Kateřina Siniaková.

Williams and Fernandez, a late, wild-card entry in the women’s doubles, won their first three matches in New York without dropping a set before being overpowered by the top-seeded team on Tuesday.

Fans inside the stadium held banners reading “Thank you, Venus” and “Forever a champion.” On social media, tributes poured in from legends of the game and younger players who grew up watching her dominate the courts. Billie Jean King tweeted, “Venus Williams has been one of the greatest trailblazers in our sport. Her courage and determination will inspire generations to come.” Meanwhile, Fernandez herself called it “an absolute honor” to share the court with a player she described as “one of my biggest inspirations.”

For Venus, this moment was about more than just saying goodbye—it was about appreciating the journey. “Tennis has been my life for so long,” she said during her post-match press conference. “The highs, the lows, the challenges, the victories—it all made me who I am. And I wouldn’t change a thing.”

For the 45-year-old Williams, who returned to tennis from a 16-month layoff in July, the defeat draws to a close her 25th appearance at the US Open having played in this year’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles competitions.

“I think what I’m proudest of is it’s not easy to come off the bench,” she told reporters. “It really isn’t, and I have never had a layoff that long. It brought new challenges that I wasn’t ready for in so many ways.

Williams’ career has been defined by resilience, grace, and barrier-breaking achievements. A seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and 14-time Grand Slam doubles champion alongside her sister Serena, Venus paved the way for countless women athletes of color. Beyond the trophies, she forever changed the conversation around equal pay in tennis, standing at the forefront of the movement that led Wimbledon to finally award equal prize money in 2007.

Her farewell comes after years of battling injuries and setbacks that would have ended most careers much earlier. Yet Venus kept pushing, not for records or accolades, but for the love of the game. That relentless spirit was what endeared her to fans worldwide and cemented her place as one of the sport’s most respected figures.

“I’m very proud that I stayed myself. I didn’t try to play another game. I didn’t try to play it safe. I went for it, and that’s who I am. I go for it. When you go for it, good things happen. Perhaps I didn’t get there this time, but I know who I am.”

Ahead of the quarterfinals, Williams said that it would have been a “dream” for sister Serena, who had been watching matches from home, to come and spectate in person.

Townsend and Siniaková will now play Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens in the semifinals.
Al Bello/Getty Images

The sister duo won 14 grand slam doubles titles together between 1999 and 2016, as well as three Olympic gold medals, but Venus’ hopes of adding to her tally with a different partner came to an end against a dominant Townsend and Siniaková.

The match in Louis Armstrong Stadium lasted just 56 minutes, with Townsend and Siniaková converting five of their six break points and only dropping six points on their own serves.

“I’m really happy with the way that we played today,” Townsend told reporters. “After the match, I felt like we really executed our game plans to a T, and that’s the most that we can ask as players.

“Venus is a legend and understands and knows how to win and figure things out when things aren’t going her way,” she added. “And Leylah the same, she always is a fighter. It really made me very proud, and I’m sure Kat as well, of the way we were able to stay solid from start to finish.”

Venus Williams, one of the most iconic figures in tennis history, stunned the sports world with an emotional farewell after what may be her final Grand Slam appearance. The 44-year-old legend bowed out alongside partner Leylah Fernandez in doubles, sparking an outpouring of tributes from fans and players alike. For many, it marked the closing of a chapter that defined not only a generation of tennis but also the very evolution of the women’s game.

As Williams walked off the court, the crowd rose to its feet in a standing ovation that seemed to last forever. While her expression was calm and graceful, her words after the match revealed the depth of emotion behind the moment. “I’m very proud,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. “To be here at this stage of my career, to have shared the court with someone as talented as Leylah, and to feel this love from the fans—it means everything.”

The match itself was less about the result and more about the symbolism. Partnering with Fernandez, a rising star who idolized Venus growing up, carried deep meaning. The pairing represented the bridging of eras—one player nearing the end of a storied career, the other just beginning to carve her own legacy. Even though the scoreboard reflected a heartbreaking exit, the embrace between the two at the net spoke louder than any numbers could.

For the tennis community, her departure leaves an unfillable void. Alongside Serena, Venus redefined athleticism in women’s tennis, bringing power, speed, and charisma to the forefront. Their arrival in the late 1990s shifted the sport forever, inspiring new generations of players who saw in them a reflection of possibility.

While she has not yet officially announced her retirement, her emotional words suggest the end of her competitive journey may be near. Still, Venus has hinted at staying connected to tennis in other ways—mentoring young players, continuing her advocacy work, and perhaps even exploring commentary or coaching.

For now, though, the moment belongs to reflection and gratitude. As one fan wrote online: “We didn’t just watch a champion. We watched history being made. Thank you, Venus, for everything.”

Her farewell is both heartbreaking and beautiful, a reminder that while champions eventually leave the court, their legacies never fade. For Venus Williams, the final chapter may be beginning, but her story will be told forever.

Williams, a seven-time grand slam champion in singles, did not say when she next expected to play, but added that her focus “will always be singles” over doubles.

“I think after this tournament I can really see where I want to improve, what I can work on,” she added.

In her first-round singles match, Williams took a set off No. 11 seed Karolína Muchová but ultimately fell to a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 defeat. Playing at her first grand slam since the 2023 US Open, she was the oldest singles player at the tournament since 1981.