Editor’s note: This article is part of the Winning Style series, exploring methods elite tennis players use to stay at the sport’s peak.
NEW YORK — Claire Curran, a former doubles player for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, remembers playing against a famous duo, Serena and Venus Williams, at Wimbledon in 2007. Curran and her partner Anne Keothavong faced these top players in the first round, noting their clear dominance as the world’s premier doubles team.
Curran recalled waiting 15 minutes for the Williams sisters to join them on the court and delaying the start once there, showcasing a tactical power imbalance during their match. Curran remarked how this strategy impacted her mind as she faced a 6-1, 6-3 defeat on Court 18. The Williams sisters’ partnership resulted in 14 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic golds, reaffirming their formidable presence in tennis.
Upcoming Game: Williams Sisters Return
In 2026, at ages 44 and 46, Serena and Venus will compete at the U.S. Open women’s doubles, marking their first match together since losing at the 2022 U.S. Open. Playing against Australia’s Maya Joint and Taiwan’s Chan Hao-Ching, their comeback evokes nostalgia from tennis’s past. The sisters often skipped regular doubles, focusing on key tournaments to claim titles.
Venus reflected in June that playing doubles wasn’t noticeably impactful for her singles career, emphasizing the pursuit of Grand Slam titles. Pam Shriver noted that if the sisters had pursued more doubles, they might have surpassed the record 20 women’s Grand Slam titles she and Martina Navratilova set.
Shifting Trends in Doubles Participation
Today’s doubles teams rarely consist of top-tier players pairing up. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula represent a recent example, teaming up for several years with limited participation in major tournaments. Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider are currently high-profile in doubles, alongside singles success.
During the Berlin Tennis Open, Pegula expressed the positive impact playing doubles had on her game, recounting the benefits of shared pressure situations for Gauff, who started young. Despite logistical challenges like late scheduling and travel demands, many players, such as Alexandra Eala, appreciate the creativity and teamwork doubles encourage.
Curran noted the cultural enjoyment seen in players like Andreeva and Shnaider, emphasizing the fun factor in doubles play. Shriver shared the hope for more appearances by the Williams sisters, believing they could still achieve significant victories.
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