Serena and Venus Williams knocked out of doubles’ play by Czech duo at US Open
Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States celebrate on the grounds at the U.S. Open tennis doubles tournament in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018.
New York (AP) — Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States have been knocked out in the first round of the US Open by Czech duo Jana Cepelova and Barbora Strycova.
Cepelova and Strycova won the doubles rubber 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 on Tuesday night.
Williams led 5-2 in the first set before Cepelova took the lead 6-3, and Williams then dropped that set 6-3. The Williams sisters and Strycova had six break points during that set but each time Cepelova got her break back.
In the second Williams and Strycova took the lead 10-9 before Williams put together a string of aggressive serves. Williams won eight of nine points against her doubles partner. Williams then dropped two more unforced errors, ending her run, and she served an ace for the winner.
Williams and Strycova won their first set, 6-2, to join the elite.
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They began the match on the right note, with Williams getting a clutch ace and backhand winner and Cepelova making some mistakes. Strycova served a double fault at 15-30 and Williams won three straight points. Then the pair made it 5-3 after Williams saved a match point.
It was a tough start for Williams, who struggled with her serve and served two double faults in the set. She closed out the set with a forehand winner and a backhand winner and they were ahead 8-3, before Williams served a match point at 6-4 with a backhand crosscourt winner.
Williams saved that at the end of the second to tie the match and Cepelova took the set.
Williams and Strycova took