Venus Williams may have bowed out early in singles at the 2025 U.S. Open, but the seven-time Grand Slam champion isn’t done yet in Flushing.
She bounced back on the doubles court on Thursday, advancing with partner Leylah Fernandez with their defeat of the sixth-ranked duo Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez.
And now the pair plays again this afternoon, facing Ulrikke Eikeri and Eri Hozumi in the women’s doubles second round.
For Williams, now 45, the doubles draw remains a stage where her experience, volleying skills, and tactical awareness shine. At the DC Open this summer, she paired up with Hailey Baptiste, advancing to the quarters.
Now, teaming up with Fernandez, a U.S. Open finalist in singles back in 2021, has given her a renewed spark and a chance to push deeper into the tournament.
Their opponents, Norway’s Eikeri and Japan’s Hozumi, are experienced doubles players who rely on consistent returns and steady teamwork. It’s a test of firepower against consistency, and the outcome could hinge on Williams’ ability to dictate points at the net.
How to Watch Venus Williams in Doubles
Today’s doubles match featuring Williams and Fernandez is expected to begin at around 3:00 PM Eastern on Grandstand Court, after Naomi Osaka’s singles match against Daria Kasatkina.
The match will not have a dedicated national TV broadcast. Instead, ESPN2 will air whip-around coverage across matches — including Jannik Sinner’s third-round showdown on Arthur Ashe Stadium. So that means only parts of the Williams’ doubles match may appear during those cut-ins.
To watch the full match live, you’ll need access to ESPN+. If you’re not already a subscriber and would like to see what it’s all about, there’s a way to do that at no cost.
ESPN+ can be tried for free through several streaming services that offer trial periods, including Hulu + Live TV, Fubo TV, and the DirecTV MySports plan.
With these free trial options, fans can stream the doubles match without paying extra — making it easy to watch Williams continue her run alongside Fernandez.
Venus Williams / Leylah Fernandez vs. Ulrikke Eikeri / Eri Hozumi
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
Expected Start Time: Around 3:00 PM Eastern (after Kasatkina-Osaka)
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing, NY
Court: Louis Armstrong Court
TV: ESPN2 (whip-around coverage)
Streaming: ESPN app and website, ESPN+ (dedicated match stream)
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