Serena and Venus Williams knocked out of doubles' play by Czech duo at US Open

By Steve Almasy and Jill Martin, CNN

Updated 0330 GMT (1130 HKT) September 2, 2022

Serena Williams and Venus Williams lost in straight sets to Lucie Hradecká and Linda Nosková of the Czech Republic at the US Open on Thursday.

(CNN)Serena Williams' illustrious doubles career has likely come to an end after she and her sister Venus fell in straight sets to the Czech duo of Linda Nosková and Lucie Hradecká in the first round of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

The 23-time grand slam singles and 14-time doubles champion is still set to play against Australia's Ajla Tomljanović in the third round of the singles draw on Friday. Venus Williams lost in the first round on Tuesday.Thursday night might have been the last match for Serena and Venus as a doubles team. The Czech Republic duo of Nosková, 17, and Hradecká, 37, advanced to the second round, winning 7-6(5), 6-4.«I think we did a very good job, and I'm so sorry for you that we beat them, but we are so happy we did it,» Hradecká said to the 23,000-plus fans in an on-court interview moments after the match.It was the first time she had teamed with Nosková in doubles. Read MoreThe Williams duo started well and had two set points with a 5-4 lead in the first, but the Czechs fought back. Hradecká and Nosková also trailed in the tiebreaker but won the last four points.They appeared to have a commanding 4-1 lead in the second set, but Venus and Serena were able to win three consecutive games to tie it up. But the Czechs held serve to go up 5-4 then broke Serena in the final game with Hradecká hitting a backhand at the net in between the sisters for the match winner.The Williams sisters entered the US Open as a doubles' wild card. They last played doubles together in