Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz gave US Open fans a moment to remember as the unlikely pairing combined experience, power and plenty of personality during the tournament’s mixed doubles competition.
For Williams, the appearance marked her first competitive match at Arthur Ashe Stadium since she stepped away from tennis in 2022. For Alcaraz, it was an opportunity to return to competitive action after almost five months out with a wrist injury.
The two Grand Slam champions quickly became one of the biggest attractions of the revamped mixed doubles event, drawing a crowd of about 15,000 spectators to the iconic New York court.
Williams and Alcaraz Make Winning Start
The pair opened their campaign with a 5-3, 4-1 victory over Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe.
The opening moments were far from perfect. Alcaraz double-faulted and dropped serve early, while both players took time to adjust to playing together. They soon found their rhythm, however, winning eight of the final nine games to secure a comfortable victory.
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Williams brought the competitive intensity that made her one of tennis’ biggest stars. At 30-30 in the opening set, she produced a powerful forehand return winner before Alcaraz followed with a forehand passing shot to seal the set.
The Spaniard admitted he was nervous before the match, particularly after spending months away from competitive tennis. Playing alongside Williams also added another layer to the occasion.
For Williams, the return to Arthur Ashe Stadium carried its own significance. She said she never expected to play on the court again, making the appearance a special moment for the six-time US Open singles champion.
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A Short Run Ends in the Quarter-Finals
The star pairing’s run eventually came to an end in the quarter-finals against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.
Bencic and Cobolli won 5-4 in a tiebreak before taking the second set 4-1, ending Williams and Alcaraz’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Despite the defeat, the tournament provided valuable competitive preparation for Alcaraz ahead of his US Open singles campaign. After nearly five months away, the Spaniard was able to get back on court in front of a packed crowd and rediscover his match rhythm.
The mixed doubles event has also generated plenty of attention since its revamped format was introduced, bringing some of the biggest singles names into competition alongside established doubles players. Williams and Alcaraz’s pairing added another memorable chapter to that experiment.
Their run may have been brief, but the sight of one of tennis’ greatest champions sharing the court with one of its brightest current stars gave the US Open another standout moment.
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