Overview
- Serena and Venus Williams lost their opening US Open doubles match and the tournament announced they would not be available for the post-match press conference after the Sept. 4, 2026 match.
- Tennis reporters say US Open officials will not fine the sisters and that the USTA was not notified of any injury reason for their absence.
- The 2026 Grand Slam rulebook requires players to attend post-match media and allows fines up to $50,000 per player while also permitting "reasonable grounds" and tournament good-cause exceptions.
- Several journalists and commentators criticized the decision, citing past penalties such as Novak Djokovic’s 2020 US Open fines and earlier fines involving the Williamses as evidence of uneven enforcement.
- The episode could increase pressure on Grand Slam organizers to clarify how "reasonable grounds" and tournament discretion are applied and it underscores tension between high-profile event context and reporters’ access to players.