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Venus Williams, Fernandez into US Open doubles quarter-finals

Venus Williams, Fernandez into US Open doubles quarter-finals
Leylah Fernandez, left, of Canada, and Venus Williams, of the United States, celebrate their third-round win. (AP)
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Updated 02 September 2025

Venus Williams, Fernandez into US Open doubles quarter-finals

Venus Williams, Fernandez into US Open doubles quarter-finals

NEW YORK: Venus Williams prolonged her stay at the US Open on Monday, partnering Leylah Fernandez to reach her first Grand Slam doubles quarter-final in nearly a decade.
The 45-year-old American tennis icon and Fernandez, who was born three years after Williams won the first of her 14 Grand Slam doubles titles in 1999, defeated Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova and China’s Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4.
It is the first time Williams has reached a Grand Slam doubles quarter-final since 2016.
Williams is playing in the doubles after receiving a last-minute invitation from US Open organizers to play in the tournament she won twice alongside younger sister Serena.
The Williams-Fernandez pair could face top seeds Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic and American Taylor Townsend in the quarter-finals.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion returned to competition at the end of July at the Washington Open after sixteen months away from the WTA Tour.
She indicated after her singles defeat that the US Open would likely be her last tournament of the season.


‘Whatever he’s gonna bring to the table, I’ll be ready,’ says Hamad Marhoon ahead of PFL MENA debut  

‘Whatever he’s gonna bring to the table, I’ll be ready,’ says Hamad Marhoon ahead of PFL MENA debut   
Updated 8 sec ago

‘Whatever he’s gonna bring to the table, I’ll be ready,’ says Hamad Marhoon ahead of PFL MENA debut  

‘Whatever he’s gonna bring to the table, I’ll be ready,’ says Hamad Marhoon ahead of PFL MENA debut   
  • Bahraini fighter faces Walid Gounaine in a flyweight showcase bout at Dhahran Expo on Dec. 5

DUBAI: Bahrain’s Hamad Marhoon makes his highly anticipated SmartCage professional debut at the Dhahran Expo in Alkhobar, ֱ, for the “PFL MENA Finals: All Or Nothing” on Dec. 5.

Marhoon will face fellow newcomer Walid Gounaine of Morocco in a flyweight showcase bout, and he is brimming with confidence.

“I’m ready. Whatever he’s gonna bring to the table, I’ll be ready. Up, down, anywhere. I see myself being well-prepared,” Marhoon said.

“I know that he’s a combat sambo fighter, he fought in the Moroccan championships. I think I’m ready for whatever’s gonna stand in front of me.”

Marhoon was initially scheduled to compete at the last PFL MENA event, but the fight was cancelled when his opponent failed to make weight. Marhoon is happy that he is getting another chance to showcase his skills.

“Of course, I’m grateful to have an opportunity like this. Since I was a kid, I’ve been working hard and believing in myself, and I’m ready for challenges and opportunities like this.”

Marhoon said he has been working on his grappling and ground game to counter Gounaine’s sambo skills.

“In the last camp, it was more about focusing on striking, but I was also mixing it up, with cage control,” Marhoon explained. “In this camp, we have been working more on wrestling and ground and pound.”