Leylah Fernandez was “like a kid on Christmas” playing US Open doubles with Venus Williams

NEW YORK—Venus Williams is making an encore performance at the 2025 US Open, competing in women’s doubles following a memorable round of singles, and partner Leylah Fernandez couldn’t be happier about it:

Q. I was just wondering, Leylah, what it's like to get that phone call and hear that Venus Williams wants to play doubles with you at the US Open and how this partnership came together?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I was like a kid on Christmas day just jumping around. I was so happy. I don't think I stopped smiling for the whole night and even in the morning. I was just super happy and excited.

Fernandez, who is booked a third-round meeting with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday, returned to action alongside Williams for the most anticipated doubles match of her career and came out on top, upsetting No. 6 seeds Lydmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

For the 2021 US Open singles finalist, much of the match was a blur.

“I have no idea what I was thinking during that tiebreak,” she said, dissolving into giggles with Venus during their post-match press conference. “I think I just kind of went on instincts. Venus said it perfectly: ‘Play it as if it was a singles match.’ So, I just didn't want to think too much on put the ball in a certain spot to help my partner. No, I just wanted to go out there, play, and I had full confidence with Venus at the net and even in the baseline.”

Playing her first match since pushing No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova to three sets on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday, Williams was equally complimentary of Fernandez, comparing her on-court mentality to that of her own sister Serena, with whom she won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles.

I never really played with a partner, outside of Serena, obviously, who had [this] kind of mentality. So it was really fun, and I think we can just hopefully continue to get better. Venus Williams on doubles partner Leylah Fernandez

“I feel like we had the same approach in terms of how we looked at the match,” said Williams. “When we got down 2-5, neither one of us were anywhere near giving up. We want to win that set. Our energy really matched each other in terms of determination, in terms of not giving up, in terms of really still just focus and dialed in on every single thing.”

Fernandez was visibly moved by the praise, calling it “probably the biggest compliment I ever got.”

“Thank you, Venus,” she added. “Oh, man. I feel like those are big shoes to fill at the moment.”

The wild card team will have another chance to prove their mettle in the second round, where they’ll face Ulrikke Eikeri and Eri Hozumi.