​Serena and Venus Williams at the US Open on Sept. 4, 2026Credit: Julian Finney/GettyNEED TO KNOWSerena Williams reportedly “fled the scene” and left her sister Venus Williams behind after their loss in the US OpenBounces reporter Ben Rothenberg said Serena left “as fast as she could” and did not participate in post-match media, as is required by the Grand Slam guidelinesVenus and Serena will not be fined for skipping their media obligations, the USTA told RothenbergSerena Williams reportedly “fled the scene” after she and her sister Venus Williams lost their first-round doubles match at the US Open.Serena, 44, and Venus, 46, were defeated by Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint in a tightly-contested match at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on Friday, Sept. 4. Following the loss, the sisters did not participate in postgame press conferences, which is a requirement of all Grand Slam athletes if the media requests to speak with them.According to Bounces reporter Ben Rothenberg, Serena apparently “fled the scene as fast as she could” and left the stadium in a private car directly from the court after the loss.Serena and Venus Williams at the US Open on Sept. 4, 2026Credit: Julian Finney/GettyVenus, however, reportedly stayed at the arena and went into the locker room, according to Rothenberg, expecting to speak with media. And while it is possible for just one member of a doubles pair to speak to media, Venus didn’t do press without her sister on Friday.Minutes after the match concluded, the USTA reportedly informed the credential media who had requested the sisters that they “will not be available for press tonight,” Rothenberg said.Per the US Open guidelines, athletes who do not fulfill their media obligations may be fined. However, that’s up to the discretion of the officials, and when Rothenberg asked the USTA if Serena and Venus would face a fee, the association said they will not be penalized for Friday’s media absence.Before she took the court with Venus on Friday for their first doubles match together since 2022, Serena competed alongside Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles. The pair defeated Lloyd Glasspool and his partner Erin Routliffe before being knocked out in the quarterfinals by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.Serena participated in post-match media then, telling reporters, “I never expected to be back on this court.” She added, “It’s just a really cool moment. I never thought this would happen.”Serena Williams at the 2026 Wimbledon ChampionshipsCredit: Cameron Spencer/GettyFollow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE’s free sports newsletter — sign up now!She also opened up about her comeback during an interview with PEOPLE earlier this month. “I really don’t have an agenda right now. I’m taking it one match at a time and seeing where my body can take me,” she explained.“It’s been exciting to see what I’m capable of and to feel myself getting stronger. Right now, I’m j