Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, who hold a combined 30 Grand Slam singles titles, took center stage at the US Open on Tuesday as part of the tournament’s revamped mixed doubles competition. The high-profile pairing drew an electric atmosphere, with approximately 15,000 spectators filling Arthur Ashe Stadium to witness the duo in action.
The event has faced criticism for a new format that some argue prioritizes the star power of top singles players over established doubles specialists. This trend was evident on Tuesday, as all four doubles-specialist pairings were defeated by teams composed of singles stars. For Alcaraz, a seven-time major winner, the match marked his return to competitive play following a wrist injury that had sidelined him since April. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, made her first appearance in New York since she “evolved away” from the sport in 2022.
The pair began their campaign with a 5-3, 4-1 victory over Great Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe. Williams, 44, previously won the US Open mixed doubles title in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi—a victory achieved five years before Alcaraz was even born. Despite the nearly three-decade gap, Williams displayed her enduring competitive spirit throughout the day.
During a change of ends, Alcaraz shared his approach to the unique partnership: “I’m playing next to the one and only Serena Williams, so what else can I do? Just enjoy and try to do the things she told me to do.” The duo showed rapid improvement during their opening match, securing eight of the final nine games to clinch the win.
However, their run in the tournament concluded in the quarter-finals. They were defeated by the Italian-Swiss pairing of world number six Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic, who claimed the match 5-4 (7-4), 4-1. While the loss denied them a spot in Wednesday’s semi-finals, the pair spent the day playing with visible enthusiasm, frequently celebrating points together with smiles. The report also notes that partnering the American great as she returned to her home slam after a four-year absence, that was how Carlos Alcaraz settled back into competitive action at the US Open.
