'I was so inspired by Leylah': Venus Williams reflects on doubles run with Fernandez at US Open

Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez might have bowed out of the US Open doubles draw with a heavy 6-1, 6-2 defeat to the world’s No. 1 pair Katerina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend, but their partnership left a lasting impression. For both players, the short-lived collaboration was more than just about results—it was about inspiration, lessons learned, and rediscovering joy on the court.

Venus, now 44, spoke with warmth about the experience of teaming up with the Canadian rising star. “I was so inspired by Leylah,” she said. “She had a great summer winning D.C., playing incredibly here in both doubles and singles. Watching her match, it could have gone either way—I was screaming at the TV. It was nuts.” For a seven-time Grand Slam champion to gush about her 22-year-old partner was no small compliment, and Venus admitted the pairing boosted her own confidence.

Fernandez was equally effusive in her praise, explaining how much she absorbed from being on court alongside one of the legends of the sport. “It’s been an incredible week and a half, learning so much from Venus,” she said. “I’m kind of like a sponge—just soaking everything in and trying to improve my game. Seeing Venus playing with such joy reminded me why I started tennis in the first place: for the love of the game and to bring joy to the fans.”

Their run ended abruptly against a seasoned team, but both players pointed to the positives. Venus even blamed herself for the loss, saying she wished she had “been a stronger partner today” but ultimately credited Siniaková and Townsend’s long-standing chemistry. “We played a great team. They’ve been playing together for years, they just had more time to pull it together than we did. We wish them luck.”

Singles still the focus

Despite the doubles experiment, Venus made it clear she has no intention of shifting her focus away from singles. “Leylah and I kept telling each other to be the best singles players we could be. I’m not going to suddenly become a doubles player. I never did, and I never will. It’s the singles for me,” she said.

That commitment to the solo format is all the more striking given her age and lengthy career. Venus admitted she’s still working on her game and sees areas for improvement. “After this tournament, I can really see where I want to improve, what I can work on. I saw myself improving with every match. In a lot of ways, we just ran out of time.”

Fashion and cultural impact

Venus was also asked about her influence on tennis fashion, a hallmark of her decades-long career. Her outfits were recently featured in Vogue and InStyle, underlining her ongoing relevance both on and off the court. “What you wear is just a reflection of who you are,” she explained. “It’s a lot of fun when you wear something you feel good in. If people thought it was fashionable, thank you for that.”

Even when the questions veered off tennis, Venus delivered memorable lines. Asked about her old habit of watching The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, she laughed off the “DVD” suggestion and reflected on Will Smith portraying her father in King Richard. “My dad only let us watch educational programs growing up, so I didn’t see Fresh Prince until I was 20. It never gets old. Will Smith is a legend, and the way he portrayed my dad—he put his whole life into it. I have so much respect for him.”

Looking ahead

Looking back on her time in New York, Venus expressed gratitude for simply being able to compete again. “I’m so thankful to the USTA for supporting me. It’s not easy to come off the bench after such a long layoff. But I’m proud I stayed myself—I didn’t play safe, I went for it. That’s who I am.”

As for what’s next, the veteran remains uncertain. “I was so focused on this tournament, I haven’t given much thought to the future. I do have commitments, places I said I’d be, so I’ll keep those. Hopefully, there will be an opportunity for me to play again this year, but I really don’t know.”

For Fernandez, the partnership may have ended quickly, but the lessons remain. For Venus, the joy and competitiveness endure. And for fans, the sight of two players from different generations sharing the court was one of the US Open’s underrated highlights.