Serena and Venus Williams lose first-ever Olympic doubles match

Jackie Bamberger

Serena and Venus Williams were shocked in the first round of doubles play at the 2016 Olympics.

Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic defeated the reigning and three-time Olympic champions in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 Sunday. The loss was the Williams sisters first-ever doubles loss in Olympic play.

“It was what it was,” Serena Williams said in a post-match press conference. “We have a chance to compete for our country and did the best that we can. We had a blast out there.

“I wouldn’t say it was devastating. It was a lot of fun and we will always remember these moments and these matches. At the end of the day, I think that’s what matters most.”

[Related: U.S. men’s volleyball team stunned by Canada in Olympic opener]

There were questions as to whether Venus would even take the court Sunday after the 36-year-old looked less than herself Saturday in a loss to open up singles play. The elder Williams is reportedly suffering from a virus that she caught at the end of a WTA tournament in Montreal last week.

“It was not our best day,” Venus Williams said in the post-match press conference. “We like to have a chance to play our way into the tournament. But we came up against a very strong team. We wish them the best of luck and we’ll get ready for the U.S. Open.”

Not all is lost for the Williams family, as Serena Williams still has the singles tournament to look forward to. The 2012 gold medalist and world No. 1 won her first-round match earlier Sunday and will play France’s Alize Cornet Monday.