NEW YORK – Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez beat Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai in the U.S. Open, beating Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai in front of a capable crowd on Monday at Louis Armtrong Stadium.
Williams and Fernandez didn’t compete together until last week when they won a lead to the field at the Grand Slam Championship. They are now 3-0 and have not lost a group in the process.
“We’re at the same wavelength and hopefully we can continue,” Williams said.
At Armstrong, packed with stands and waiting to visit Williams and Fernandez, the 45-year-old American and 22-year-old Canadian can only take an hour and 14 minutes to move on.
“I’m confident in Venus and I hope she’s confident in me in the game,” Fernandez said. “We’re just going there, playing the game: offensive, offensive and ready for the ball.”
Williams called Fernandez to her best partner, the Serena sisters, who won 14 Grand Slam Tag Team Championships. There is only one person still playing, but Venus is getting help from Serena in the distance and wants more.
“She was so happy for Laila and me, and she gave us advice,” Williams said. “We just need to be in the box. So, my message is, ‘Serena, you need to show up.'”
