Venus Williams says what she’s always telling people about her doubles ability which ‘nobody believes’

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Things didn’t pan out for Venus Williams in singles at this year’s US Open, but she’s still picking up wins elsewhere.

Playing the new-look mixed doubles event, Williams lost her opening match alongside Reilly Opelka against the hard-hitting duo of Andrey Rublev and Karolina Muchova.

Turning her attention to singles, Williams fell to Muchova once more, losing 3-6, 6-2, 1-6 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was the third time’s the charm for the American, as she won her first match at this year’s US Open in the women’s doubles, partnering Leylah Fernandez.

Defeating the eighth seeds, Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez, Williams and Fernandez booked their place in round two.

After the match, Williams shared what she always tells people about her doubles game, which nobody believes.

Venus Williams always tells people she’s ‘not good at doubles’, but nobody believes her

During her post-match press conference, Williams made a surprise admission about her doubles game.

“I always tell people that I am not good at doubles, but nobody believes me,” she said.

“I think traditionally doubles players are crossing and moving, and I don’t necessarily do all that.

“Push comes to shove, and I will do what I have to, but I am a singles player, so when I walk out there, I tell myself just play singles and try that method.

“I try not to be something that I am not, so to be honest, it’s an area that I am not that comfortable in being on the doubles court, but I think you get to some points in the match where you stop thinking about it, and then you just zone in.”

As modest as ever, Williams downplayed her doubles talents, despite producing an impressive display on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

• Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez defeat Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez, 7-6, 6-3

She and Fernandez will return for the second round on Saturday, August 30, to play Eri Hozumi and Ulrikke Eikeri.

Williams, at 45 years old, will no doubt give it her all to qualify for the third round, as she continues her search for a 15th Grand Slam doubles title.

Venus Williams’ remarkable record in Grand Slam doubles

Partnering with her sister, Serena Williams, the WTA Tour veteran contested 14 Grand Slam doubles finals during her career.

Remarkably, the Williams sisters won all 14 finals, as they completed two career Grand Slams in the discipline (winning all four majors).

They won their 14th and final doubles title together at Wimbledon in 2016, defeating Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova on Centre Court.

Williams also held the number-one ranking in doubles for eight weeks, between June and August 2010.

To suggest Williams is anything other than an elite doubles player is outrageous, as her numbers speak for themselves.

The Williams sisters sit fifth in the list of Open Era Grand Slam women’s doubles champions, behind some of the discipline’s greatest-ever players.

Most Grand Slam women’s doubles titles (Open Era)

• 1. Martina Navratilova (31)
• 2. Pam Shriver (21)
• 3. Natasha Zvereva (18)
• 4. Gigi Fernandez (17)
• T-5. Venus Williams (14)
• T-5. Serena Williams (14)

It’ll be a tough ask for Williams to move ahead of her sister to 15, but if she and Fernandez can play as well as they did in round one, you wouldn’t want to bet against it…