NEW YORK — Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez reached the third spherical of girls’s doubles on the U.S. Open by defeating Ulrikke Eikeri and Eri Hozumi 7-6 (1), 6-1 on Saturday.
Williams and Fernandez fell behind early, like they did within the first spherical, earlier than rallying and discovering their rhythm. The 45-year-old American and 22-year-old Canadian had by no means performed collectively till this week, after they acquired a wild-card entry into the sector.
“We have now just a few secrets and techniques,” Williams mentioned. “I used to be telling her just a few issues, however, yeah, I assume we forgot we acquired down. We have been targeted on profitable the match. The rating doesn’t matter. All that issues is you retain placing it in and maintain being the one to win the purpose, after which right here you might be on the finish.”
Williams, a 14-time Grand Slam ladies’s doubles champion with sister Serena, acquired to once more do her signature twirl-and-wave in entrance of an adoring crowd at Flushing Meadows. In the course of the match, she even inspired followers to get on their ft.
“I even have by no means achieved that,” Williams mentioned. “However we have been down, so we wished the power that you simply guys deliver. We wanted that.”
Williams had been off the tour for 16 months till returning to motion by taking part in singles and doubles at Washington in July.
In singles on the U.S. Open, she pushed Eleventh-seeded Karolina Muchova to 3 units Monday within the first spherical earlier than bowing out.
Fernandez, who reached the singles closing on the U.S. Open in 2021, known as Williams an inspiration who has stored her motivated.
“It was numerous enjoyable,” Fernandez mentioned. “I really like Venus. She stored asking me how am I feeling between changeovers, and I used to be like: ‘I’m feeling good, I’m excited.’”
