(September 1, 2022) FLUSHING MEADOWS, New York – Venus and Serena Williams bowed out of the US Open in the first round on Thursday night, losing to the Czech Republic team of Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova 7-6 (5), 6-4,

“It’s something incredible, because playing first round in a huge stadium, with 23,000 people, is something amazing,” said veteran Hradecka to media who has won major doubles trophies,

“I was speechless when I found out I’m going to face these two. I mean, they’re legends. And I was always such a big fan of them, especially Serena. She has been my idol since ever, probably,” said Noskova, a 17-year-old making her major debut in doubles. “So I was really happy, excited, but kind of scared, to face them.”

Serena Williams will be playing her third-round singles match on Friday night,

Rafael Nadal survived a test against Fabio Fognini. The Spaniard, the No. 2 seed rallied from 6-2, 4-2 down to beat the Italian 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 in the second evening match in Ashe Stadium.

In a bizarre incident, up 3-0 in the fourth set, Nadal hurt himself when his racquet bounced up and hit him in the nose.

“Was just a strong hit,” said the 22-time major winner. “At the beginning I thought I breaked the nose because it was a shock at the beginning. Was very painful.

“I lost little bit the – I don’t know how to say in English – but a little bit the feeling of my head. It’s about being a little bit out of the world.

I don’t know, seems like is not breaked. I am not sure yet. I don’t know. I think it’s getting bigger and bigger.

“No, that’s just a shock some way I deserved to play that bad for a while (laughter). No, is joking.”

Nadal will play Richard Gasquet for a spot in the fourth round. They’ve played against each other since they were children,