Serena Williams, Venus Williams to make U.S. Open history Thursday night

Regardless of what happens beyond Thursday night, tennis living legends Serena Williams and Venus Williams are bound to make history during this year's U.S. Open as a pair. 

Serena Williams is on 23 career Grand Slam singles titles, one shy of the all-time record held by Margaret Court, but saddened many sports fans around the world when she strongly suggested last month that she will retire following this year's Slam held in New York. 

The 40-year-old has not looked like an athlete slowing down this week, however, as she downed Danka Kovinic in the first round of the U.S. Open singles competition and then stunned No. 2 ranked Anett Kontaveit 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 on Wednesday to advance further. 

While Venus Williams fell to Alison Van Uytvanck in straight sets, she and Serena nevertheless will again re-write the record books when they face off against Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova in doubles action on Thursday night. As David Russell noted for the New York Post, this will be the first time that a first-round U.S. Open doubles match will be held at Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

ESPN's William E. Ricks added that it is the venue's first doubles night session since Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan defeated Colin Fleming and Jonathan Marray in the men's quarterfinals of the 2013 U.S. Open, and the first women's doubles night session since none other than the Williams sisters lost to Nadia Petrova and Maria Kirilenko in the third round of the 2012 tournament. 

The Williams sisters have won 14 women's doubles Grand Slam titles together. Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver hold the record for the Open Era with 20 Slams as partners. 

As for Serena Williams' singles journey, she will next take on Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday evening.