Venus Williams Advances to Last 16 at US Open with Leylah Fernandez in Doubles

In a heartwarming display of camaraderie and sportsmanship, Venus Williams caught the attention of tennis fans with one of her signature celebrations after advancing to the last 16 of the US Open alongside her doubles partner Leylah Fernandez. The 45-year-old tennis icon, whose celebration involves raising her hand to acknowledge the crowd while giving a little skip and twirl, seemed to transport spectators back in time, showcasing her enduring charm and competitive spirit.

Williams, not having reached this stage in a Grand Slam since the 2018 French Open, has formed a formidable partnership with the 22-year-old Canadian Fernandez. Together, they pulled off an upset against the sixth-seeded duo of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez in the first round, followed by a convincing second-round victory over Ulrikke Eikeri and Eri Hozumi, with a score of 7-6(1), 6-1.

After their victory on Saturday, Fernandez paid tribute to Williams by mimicking her iconic celebration, highlighting the influence the seven-time Grand Slam singles winner has had on the younger player. “She’s such an inspiration,” Fernandez remarked in her on-court interview. “You have motivated me to keep going on this journey through the good and the bad. Seeing you play out here, having fun, playing because you love the sport, it’s motivating, it’s inspirational.”

The duo experienced a challenging start in their match, falling behind 3-1 and facing additional break points in the first set. Williams’ skillful volley winners helped turn the tide as they fought off the potential double break. Williams later expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I actually have never done that,” referring to her gestures aimed at energizing the crowd. “But we were down, so we wanted the energy that you guys bring. We needed that.”

Their resilience paid off as they broke back in the following game, delighting the supportive audience at Flushing Meadows, and ultimately clinched the first set in a tiebreak after winning seven consecutive points.

The second set saw a decline in intensity from Eikeri and Hozumi, allowing Williams and Fernandez to dominate, winning all but one game. Their victory propels them to face either the No. 12 seeded pair of Ekaterina Alexandrova and Shuai Zhang or the British team of Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal in the quarterfinals.

Earlier in the week, Williams made headlines by becoming the oldest singles player at the US Open since 1981, when she faced the No. 11 seed Karolína Muchová. Despite a defeat, her performance showcased her remarkable skill, prompting praise from fellow competitors, including two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka. “It’s incredible to still see Venus on the court,” Osaka commented. “I know that when people talk about her, they mention her age first, but I feel like we should be appreciating so much that she’s still playing and she’s still giving inspiration to so many people.” Osaka also noted Williams’ impressive game and movement during her match against Muchová, underscoring the ongoing impact Williams has on the sport.