Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez are having a blast as they make their way through the women’s doubles draw at the 2025 US Open. They’ve spent less than a week on court together, yet they have managed to tap into a winning formula with their complementary styles of play.
With virtually no experience prior and, as Fernandez admits, little strategy talk going into each match, the duo has not dropped a set en route to their quarterfinal appearance. So what’s their secret?
After Monday’s third-round win, Williams let everyone in on their secret weapon: a little long-distance coaching advice from sister Serena, with whom she shares 14 major doubles titles. If they were to have anyone whispering a few tactics in their ears, they couldn’t have picked a better person to have in their corner.
“She gave me a pep talk and made sure to call me today [to give me advice]. I was, like, ‘You're right. I got it. I got it,’” Williams said with a smile. “She's definitely coaching from afar. She's so excited. She gets so nervous watching. We've got, like, I don't know, three coaches now? Serena's on the coaching team.”
Williams laughed as she recounted a conversation with Fernandez during a changeover when she shared the words of advice she got from her younger sister and former doubles partner back home.
“It’s funny, mid-match I told Leylah, ‘You know, Serena told me—and I’m not going to tell [everyone] what she told me—but she said I have to do this more.’ And Leylah said, ‘My sister told me the same thing!’ The same exact advice. So we’re on the same wavelength and hopefully we can keep it going.”
Last week, Serena took to social media after her sister’s second-round victory, creating a playful video that captures her watching the match on TV at home, rolling her eyes and then pretending to put on a fake supportive smile for her sister. The caption read: “When you see your sister @Venus Williams has a new doubles partner @leylahanniefernandez and you are really happy she’s winning with someone else.”
The joking exchange continued with Venus sending a message back to her sister during the post-match, on-court interview Monday.
“Really, she’s so happy for Leylah and I, and she’s giving us advice,” Williams said. “We just need her in the box. So my message is, ‘Serena, you need to show up.’”
Williams’ bantering request drew a roar of approval from the crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium. It might not be a bad idea, as Williams and Fernandez next face their biggest test in the quarterfinals against top seeds and reigning Australian Open doubles champions Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova.
“Taylor and Katerina, they've been playing incredible doubles together, incredible years,” Fernandez said. “I know they are both super aggressive, and the atmosphere is going to be electric, just like every other day. I feel like we're just going to go out there, enjoy our time, and hopefully play our game.”
Can fans expect to see Serena in the player’s box at the next Williams/Fernandez match? It’s not likely. But if you watch closely, you might see a strategy or two that have her fingerprints all over them.
