Serena Williams departed the U.S. Open without her sister Venus after a doubles match loss, bypassing a mandatory post-match press conference. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced that neither sister will face a fine for skipping the media availability.
Following their defeat in the women's doubles first round to Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint on Friday night, Serena Williams reportedly left the Arthur Ashe Stadium court and headed directly to a car. Venus Williams, meanwhile, stayed on the court before proceeding to the locker room, which is standard practice.
Per Grand Slam rules, players are required to attend a post-match press conference if requested by media. Reporters had submitted requests for a joint press conference with the Williams sisters through the US Open's media operations system. However, shortly after the match concluded, the USTA informed credentialed media that "Serena and Venus Williams will not be available for press tonight."
Skipping a press conference without a valid excuse, such as injury or illness, typically constitutes a code violation. While the U.S. Open organizers have the discretion to issue fines in such instances, they opted not to penalize the Williams sisters. This decision has led to observations about potential favoritism towards the renowned athletes, suggesting the organization may wish to maintain a positive relationship with them.
The Williams sisters had previously spoken with reporters after a first-round doubles loss in Cincinnati the previous month. Venus also addressed the media following her first-round singles defeat in New York.
The conclusion of their doubles match at the U.S. Open has raised questions about the future endeavors of both Serena and Venus Williams in professional tennis.