Overview

The women's doubles tournament at the 2010 US Open was contested on the hard courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. As one of the four Grand Slam events, the US Open features a 64‑team doubles draw that attracts established partnerships and newly formed teams seeking a major title.

Defending champions and withdrawals

The reigning champions were the Williams sisters: Serena Williams and Venus Williams. Serena withdrew from the 2010 doubles competition because of a foot injury, so the pair did not defend their title together. Serena's absence reshaped the doubles field and opened opportunities for other teams to advance deeper into the tournament.

Final and champions

The championship match produced a dramatic three‑set encounter. The team of Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova defeated the pairing of Liezel Huber and Nadia Petrova by a score of 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(4). After losing the first set, King and Shvedova rallied to take the second and then prevailed in a decisive final‑set tiebreak, securing the trophy and a memorable Grand Slam victory.

Format, seeds and path

Like other Grand Slam doubles events, the draw featured seeded teams based on world doubles rankings and recent results. Matches prior to the final were best of three sets, with a standard tiebreak used to decide sets that reached 6–6. The tournament included early upsets, momentum swings and several tight matchups as teams vied for a place in the later rounds.

Significance and legacy

The 2010 final highlighted the depth of women's doubles at the Grand Slam level: a relatively new pairing could defeat more established opponents by combining strong serving, effective net play and teamwork under pressure. The victory boosted the profiles of King and Shvedova and is remembered for its comeback from a set down and the tension of a final‑set tiebreak against the accomplished duo of Liezel Huber and Nadia Petrova.

Key facts

  • Event: 2010 US Open – Women's Doubles.
  • Surface: Outdoor hard court.
  • Final score: 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(4).
  • Notable withdrawal: Serena Williams withdrew with a foot injury.
  • Champions: Vania King (link) and Yaroslava Shvedova.