2016 Rio Olympics: Venus and Serena Williams stunned in first round match – CBSSports.com

In one of the most shocking results of the 2016 Olympics to date, defending gold medalists Venus and Serena Williams lost in the first round of the women’s doubles tennis tournament. The Williams sisters had never lost an Olympic doubles match before Sunday’s stunning defeat, which ends their title defense.

Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic took down the American stars in straight sets, 6-3 and 6-4.

Prior to Sunday’s match, the Williamses had only dropped three sets in the entirety of their Olympics doubles career together, spanning 15 prior matches. They won gold medals in 2000, 2008 and 2012 as a doubles team.

The loss also marks the end of the 2016 Olympics for Venus Williams. She dropped a close match Saturday to Belgian Kirsten Flipkens that spanned three hours in the singles tournament. After the match it was revealed that Venus had been suffering from an illness, which negatively impacted her performance.

It is probable that this was going to be Venus Williams’ final Olympics. If it is indeed the end, her Olympic career concludes with four gold medals, including women’s singles gold in 2000 and the three golds she won alongside Serena in doubles.

Meanwhile, Serena will continue her quest to defend her singles gold medal. She won her first-round match Saturday, dropping Australian Daria Gavrilova in straight sets.