Venus Williams’ first Grand Slam tournament in two years ended on Tuesday when she and Leylah Fernandez lost in the U.S. Open women’s doubles quarterfinals to the top-seeded duo of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 6-2.
When the match finished after 56 minutes in Louis Armstrong Stadium, Williams smiled as she walked to the net to shake hands with Siniakova, then hug Townsend. Thousands of spectators rose to give Williams a standing ovation; Townsend and Siniakova then joined in, applauding for Williams.
“Growing up watching Venus and (her sister) Serena, for me and my sister, it was an inspiration,” Townsend told the crowd. “It was an honor to share the court today.”