ESPN has drawn criticism from tennis fans for an inaccurate graphic displayed during the U.S. Open that was intended to showcase American women with the most major singles victories before age 23. The graphic mistakenly featured two photos of Serena Williams instead of including her sister, Venus Williams.
The graphic aimed to list Venus Williams (107 wins), Serena Williams (103 wins), Mary Joe Fernandez (93 wins), Chris Evert (90 wins), and Coco Gauff (89 wins). However, viewers pointed out that only Serena Williams was pictured, with two of her images used in place of Venus Williams.
Fans expressed their disappointment on social media platforms like X, with one user stating, "I think ESPN just threw up a graphic using two pictures of Serena???? Whoops." Another comment read, "This is unprofessional." Some viewers suggested the error was a result of the demanding broadcast schedule, referencing a late-night quarterfinal match that concluded at 3:33 a.m.
The Williams sisters competed in the U.S. Open doubles tournament this year, losing their first-round match to Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint. Following their defeat, reports indicated that Serena Williams quickly departed the U.S. Open venue, leaving her sister Venus Williams behind.
According to tennis insider Ben Rothenberg, Serena Williams exited the Arthur Ashe court and went directly to a waiting car. This hasty departure meant the sisters, who were obligated to speak to the media after their match, skipped their post-match press conference. Tournament officials reportedly opted not to fine the players for this decision.