Serena and Venus Williams are KNOCKED OUT of US Open doubles in the first round

There will be no farewell grand slam title in doubles for Serena Williams after she and sister Venus lost in the first round of the US Open.

The sisters decided to give it one last whirl four years after their last slam appearance together and six years on from the most recent of their 14 titles.

But the old magic was not quite there and they fell to a 7-6 (5) 6-4 loss to the Czech duo of 37-year-old Lucie Hradecka and 17-year-old Linda Noskova on Thursday night. 

Serena and Venus Williams lost in the first round of doubles at the US Open Thursday night

The sisters fell to a 7-6 (5) 6-4 loss to the Czech duo Lucie Hradecka (R) and Linda Noskova (L)

It was most likely the last time the American sisters will team up for a doubles match

Ashe had never hosted a first-round doubles match – for women or men, during the night or day – until this one featuring two American sisters who have combined to claim 14 Grand Slam titles in doubles but were partnering for the first time since the 2018 French Open.

This was their fourth first-round doubles defeat at a Slam; the most recent had been at the 2013 French Open.

When it was announced Serena and Venus would be playing doubles, it had appeared this might be the former’s last match, but her success in singles gave this contest a slightly different complexion.

It marked the first time Arthur Ashe had never hosted a first-round doubles match

The competitive desire was very much there, and Serena again looked sharp both from the back of the court and at the net.

But Hradecka and Noskova hung on and then seized their chance in the tie-break, Hradecka threading a fine pass down the line on set point to virtual silence.

She was emerging as the key player against her fellow veterans and, although Serena and Venus retrieved an early break to get back to 4-4, a break of the Serena serve settled the contest.

Hradecka and Noskova hung on and then seized their chance in the tie-break to win first set

As usual when playing together, Serena and Venus traded fist bumps or palm slaps

As usual when playing together, they traded fist bumps or palm slaps and chatted between points; they smiled while conversing in their seats at changeovers. When the match ended, the sisters hugged each other. They left the court to a standing ovation.

An announced sellout crowd of 23,859 showed up, just like for each of Serena´s two victories in singles so far this week, although the fans were not quite as boisterous Thursday as they had been for those other night matches involving a player who has hinted that this will be the final event of her career. 

It was the second early exit of the week for Venus, who lost her singles opening-round to World No. 49 Alison Van Uytvanck but Serena faces Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round on Friday in what could her last ever tournament. 

The tennis legends left the Arthur Ashe court to a deserved standing ovation frim the crowd

Relive all the action from  Serena and Venus Williams‘ doubles defeat to Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova the US Open with Sportsmail’s live blog from ISABEL BALDWIN.