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The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) will not fine Venus and Serena Williams for failing to participate in a press conference following their first-round doubles loss in the US Open on Friday night, the USTA confirmed to Front Office Sports on Sunday. The decision was first reported by tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg.
Grand Slam rules require all players to sit for post-match press conferences if requested by media, and many credentialed reporters at Flushing Meadows had filed such an ask of both Williams sisters. But immediately after the duo fell in a nail-biting three-set match to Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan, the USTA sent the following message to media members: “Serena and Venus Williams will not be available for press tonight.”
It’s typically unusual for players to skip out on press obligations, thanks, in large part, to the threat of fines. However, the Williams sisters have made it something of a habit.
Collectively, they’ve dodged the media more than a dozen times at major tournaments over the years. But they haven’t always dodged the fines that came with the behavior; Venus, for example, was hit with a $5,000 fine after failing to participate in press following a first-round loss at the 2016 Australian Open.
Rothenberg also reported that while Venus went to the locker room—as players usually do—after the pair’s Friday night loss, Serena opted to jump straight into a car and leave the tournament grounds. (Venus also sat before reporters following her first-round singles loss earlier in the week.)
Decisions to issue fines are ultimately discretionary, and the Williams sisters’ stature in the sport undoubtedly impacts decision-making about them—by the USTA or other governing bodies.
New Media Growing Pains
The 2026 US Open has dealt with its fair share of media-related headaches beyond Venus and Serena’s opt-out.
After credentialing “close to 100” social media content creators for this year’s event—nearly double the 54 it credentialed for the first time last year—the USTA has had to address poor courtside etiquette exhibited by some influencer-types, including the use of flash photography during matches.
World No. 3 player Jessica Pegula sounded off on the situation after her Wednesday win, saying she “can appreciate the influencers coming and kind of showcasing the US Open experience,” but that “it’s gotten a little, maybe too much” this year.
That same day, US Open head of communications Brendan McIntyre told FOS the tournament is reminding attendees to “refrain from any activity that can disrupt the action.”
