Here’s a full report from tonight’s match:
There’s no on-court interview for the Americans as Serena heads off quickly to prepare for tomorrow’s match. That is more than likely the final time these great champions will play together on the same court. But we’ll see Serena at least once more, as she plays on Arthur Ashe at primetime tomorrow. Should be a good one.
The Czechs are interviewed quickly. Hradecka says this is the first time she has played with Noskova and they only got paired after her regular partner was injured injured, it didn’t show though. The 17-year-old Noskova is asked about playing her hero, Serena. She calls it “a special moment … I was really lucky”.
That’s all from us. We’ll be back tomorrow for more live coverage. Bye!
Noskova and Hradecka beat the Williams sisters 7-6, 6-4
The Czechs grab the first point of a crucial game. Then a poor backhand from Serena makes it 0-30 and the crowd try to provide some support. But Hradecka scurries to make a forehand that Serena can’t return and the Czechs have three match points. Venus saves the first to huge cheers with a volley that splits the Czechs. But then Hradecka, appropriately given she has anchored this victory seals the match with a volley.
Second set: Williams/Williams 6-7, 4-5 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
Noskova serves and does so well. Serena now needs to hold to keep the Williams sisters in the tournament (or the doubles bit of it at least).
Second set: *Williams/Williams 6-7, 4-4 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
A bit more noise from the crowd after that break as Venus serves. And Serena unleashes a huge volley at the net that flies between the Czechs to make it 30-0. A perfectly angled volley from Noskova levels things at 30-30 though. We’re soon at deuce and then a break point for the Czechs, which Venus saves with a huge serve. What follows is a series of brilliant volleys from Serena, a coruscating forehand from Venus and a vital hold.
Second set: Williams/Williams 6-7, 3-4 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
The superb Hradecka serves. And she stoops to scorch a crosscourt forehand winner to make it 30-0. Serena gives her opponent an approving chuckle. The Williamses haven’t played as a team for more than four years, while doubles is Hradecka’s job. And it has shown tonight. As soon as I type that the Williamses bring it back to deuce. And then get a break point. And Hradecka double faults! That was my fault. We’re back on serve.
Second set: *Williams/Williams 6-7, 2-4 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
What would be worse for Serena than losing this in straight sets? Losing in three sets, given her match tomorrow. A hold for the Williamses and they don’t look too tired.
Second set: Williams/Williams 6-7, 1-4 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
ESPN has found an Instagram post from Noskova when she was 13 saying how much she loves Serena. And now she’s playing her. A rare example of a social media post from someone’s past not destroying their reputation. I’m all for it.
And we have a break chance for the Williamses at 30-40, which Noskova saves with an ace. We may be seeing her for a while – she’s rarely looked overawed on the big stage. Some nice play at the net from Hradecka finishes things off.
Second set: *Williams/Williams 6-7, 1-3 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
Venus serves to get the Williamses on the board here in the second set. They’re 40-0 up, but Hradecka hits another brilliant forehand down the line to make it deuce. The Czechs then have a break point but Noskova’s volley zings off the net cord to keep the Americans alive.
Second set: Williams/Williams 6-7, 0-3 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
Hradecka is a very good doubles player and she’s steering her younger partner to victory here (at the moment). A waft into the net from Serena makes it 3-0 to the Czechs. Where the first set was a grind, this one is whizzing by. For Noskova and Hradecka, anyway.
Second set: *Williams/Williams 6-7, 0-2 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
You don’t win 80,567,843 grand slams by taking it easy when you’re down a set, but the sisters look a little disjointed now and Serena double faults to make it deuce on her serve. The Czechs break shortly afterwards. How hard does Serena push this at the age of 40, with a singles match tomorrow?
Second set: Williams/Williams 6-7, 0-1 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
The Czechs race to a 40-0 lead before Noskova’s double fault gives the Williamses a little hope. But a good serve into the body clinches the game. It’s a pretty flat atmosphere on Ashe after that tiebreak.
Noskova/Hradecka win the first set 7-6
Hradecka whips a backhand down the line. It’s too good and the Williamses have work to do. That was a long first set – and Serena has a singles match tomorrow.
Updated
First set tiebreak: Williams/Williams 5-6 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
Noskova serves. Venus’ return flies out to level the tiebreak. Then Noskova’s great forehand down the line brings up set point for the Czechs.
First set tiebreak: *Williams/Williams 5-4 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
Venus’ two serves now. Serena follows up a strong serve with a volley. Venus then double faults.
First set tiebreak: Williams/Williams 4-3 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
Noskova levels things up with a stabbed volley. Then the Williamses win the best rally of the match to break.
First set tiebreak: *Williams/Williams 3-2 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
Serena wins both her service points.
First set tiebreak: Williams/Williams 1-2 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
Hradecka’s poor volley erases their break. Noskova sends down an ace in response.
First set tiebreak: *Williams/Williams 0-1 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
The Czechs get the minibreak.
First set: Williams/Williams 6-5 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
The umpire, with a medium-sized towel, is mopping up some sweat on the baseline. Now he’s got a smaller towel for some precision. He’s thorough this guy, I like his style. A lovely volley from Noskova makes it 30-0 as the Czechs look to force the tiebreak. Which they do.
First set: *Williams/Williams 6-5 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
Serena holds, guaranteeing the Williamses at least a tiebreak.
First set: Williams/Williams 5-5 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
All Noskova has to do now in the biggest match of her life is hold serve to save the set against two of the greatest players of all time. At 0-15, Serena has the chance to make it 0-30 with the court open but sends her volley long. Then Noskova sends down an ace and we’re at 30-15: impressive stuff. But a double fault brings up deuce and the set is in the balance. And a searing forehand then gives the Williams sisters set point. It’s saved after a great touch volley from Hradecka that Venus can’t reach. The Czechs save another set point before holding. Cool nerves from Noskova.
First set: *Williams/Williams 5-4 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
Venus still having trouble with her ball toss. In the crowd Tracy Austin slurps down a refreshing drink (I assume it’s refreshing, she looked like she was enjoying it). Serena obliterates the ball at the net and her shot flies into the crowd. Another raw from Serena takes the game. It’s been a little flat so far, so maybe the 23-time (singles) major champion is trying to fire things up a little.
First set: Williams/Williams 4-4 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
Hradecka has been pretty flawless so far, and could end up being the difference in this match. A serve corkscrews into Serena’s body to clinch the game.
First set: *Williams/Williams 4-3 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
At 40-0, Hradecka rips a backhand down the line: she’s been the best player on court tonight, taking charge from her younger partner when she needs to. Her play helps the Czechs get back to deuce, where a lovely overhead from Serena is too good for Hradecka. The Williamses hold shortly afterwards.
First set: Williams/Williams 3-3 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
Noskova is playing pretty well, considering her lack of experience. And just as I write that she double faults at 40-0. Serena crept up the court on second serve and it may have rattled the 17-year-old a little. But this one is still on serve.
First set: *Williams/Williams 3-2 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
Venus serves. The Americans leap out to a 30-0 lead and consolidate it with a punishing serve into the body that’s too good for Noskova. A nice moment for the teenager next though as she exchanges a series of fiery forehands with Venus, just 25 years her senior. She wins the point too and we’re soon at deuce. A double fault brings up break point for the Czechs, which Venus saves with a fine serve that Hradecka floats long. Venus hits another double fault – her serve is a little erratic today – but eventually it’s another Williams hold.
First set: Williams/Williams 2-2 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are the No2 seeds in the women’s doubles. Or they WERE: they just lost to the Canadian/Aussie duo of Leylah Annie Fernandez and Daria Saville. Fernandez, you may remember, reached the final of the singles last year.
Back on Arthur Ashe, Noskova serves and tumbles to the court at 30-15. She’s down for a few moments but is back on her feet soon enough, and holds serve.
First set: *Williams/Williams 2-1 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)
Serena’s turn to serve. And she continues her form from yesterday as the Williamses head out to a 40-15 lead. But a double fault lets the Czechs back in and we’re soon at deuce. But some strong serves from Serena seals the game for the Americans.
First set: Williams/Williams 1-1 Noskova/Hradecka* (* Denotes servers)
The teenage Noskova serves first for the Czechs – youth knows no fear etc. She sends down an ace to make it 30-15, so not a bad decision all in all. Another good serve helps close out the game.
First set: *Williams/Williams 1-0 Nosková/Hradecká (* Denotes servers)
Nosková took a bathroom break before the match even started. But you’d be nervous facing the Williams sisters too. Anyway, Venus serves first to Noskova. The experienced Hradecká dumps a volley into the net, perhaps she has nerves too, to give the Americans a 15-0 lead. Venus is having a few problems with her ball toss early – it’s a still night and the sun is down so it’s not an issue with the conditions. No matter, they hold easily enough and they’re on the board.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands is in the ESPN booth and has played the Williams sisters in doubles. She says the sisters are hall of fame players based on their doubles skills alone. Mattek-Sands also compliments Hradecká’s serve, which she rates as one of the best on tour.
And the players are out on court. First come the Czech team of Linda Nosková and Lucie Hradecká to … maybe four cheers. I imagine the next pair are going to get a slightly louder reception. But first we get a video presentation in which we are told the Williamses are pretty good at tennis, all things considered. This is good information to know going forward.
And then they’re out: Venus in white and green, and Serena in black. And, yep, there are plenty of cheers. Although I wouldn’t say it’s deafening, perhaps reflecting that this is doubles and the stands still aren’t packed as the evening session crowd slowly files in. Maybe they’re still over the road watching the Mets at CitiField (the Mets are beating the Dodgers 5-3 in the 8th, in case you want to know. Which you probably don’t).
Updated
The Williamses opponents this evening are a blend of youth and experience. Linda Nosková is just 17 and this is her first-ever appearance at a grand slam doubles event. She’s currently ranked outside the Top 200 in doubles, although that may be down to her inexperience rather than any lack of ability. Her partner is a veteran of the circuit though. At 37, Lucie Hradecká has been a pro for 18 years, and has two grand slam doubles titles, including the US Open in 2013. She may be past her peak, but she’s still a Top 20 player in doubles, so this match will be no walkover for the Williamses.
We’ve talked plenty about Serena’s likely retirement after the US Open, but is this the last time we see Venus? She is, after all, the older sister and has barely played in the last year because of injury. When she lost to Alison van Uytvanck in the first-round of the singles here in New York she was asked about her future and merely said: “Right now I’m just focused on the doubles.”
Amid Serena’s brilliance it’s easy to forget just how good Venus has been down the years. This was her 91st appearance in a major singles event, a record in the Open era. She also won Wimbledon five times, trailing only Martina Navratilova (nine), Serena (seven) and Steffi Graf (seven). Oh, and her record in Flushing Meadows isn’t bad either: she won the singles title twice in the early 2000s and the doubles twice.
Preamble
Venus and Serena Williams are now 40 and 42 respectively, so they’re not quite at the peak of their careers anymore – although one of them just beat the world No 2 – but in their day they were arguably the most formidable doubles team in history. How good? Their all-time record in grand slams as a team is 125-14. At the Olympics it’s 15-1, and in tournament finals it’s a ridiculous 22-1.
Altogether they have won 14 grand slam titles as doubles partners (to go with their mere 30 singles titles). It’s actually been a while since they played together in a grand slam – they reached the third round of the French Open in 2018. Their last grand slam doubles title came in 2016 at Wimbledon.
So, what are their chances this time? If Serena’s remarkable run in the singles continues it wouldn’t be a surprise if she pulls out of the doubles to conserve energy. But make no mistake, even in their 40s, the sisters are capable of making a deep run.
