Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams made their debut as a mixed doubles team at the US Open 2026, marking Williams' return to the tournament after a four-year hiatus. Their partnership captivated fans as approximately 15,000 spectators filled Arthur Ashe Stadium to cheer them on. The mixed doubles format, however, has faced criticism for prioritizing star singles players over established doubles teams.
Read More
In their opening match, Williams and Alcaraz triumphed over Great Britain's Lloyd Glasspool and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe, winning in a convincing 5-3, 4-1 format. This marked a significant moment for both players, with Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, returning to the court for the first time since stepping back from tennis in 2022. Alcaraz, a seven-time major winner, was also making his first competitive appearance since injuring his wrist in April.
During a changeover, Alcaraz expressed his excitement about playing alongside Williams, stating, "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." Unfortunately, their run ended in the quarter-finals when they lost to Italy's Flavio Cobolli and Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, with a score of 5-4 (7-4), 4-1.
Williams, who previously won the US Open mixed doubles title in 1998, noted the significance of returning to Arthur Ashe Stadium. She remarked, "It's always amazing to be here. I never expected to be back on this court. It was just a really cool moment."
The revamped mixed doubles format, introduced last year, aims to draw attention by featuring top singles players, which has resulted in established doubles pairs facing challenging competition. Notably, top-ranked doubles teams like Glasspool and Henry Patten had to navigate through qualifying rounds, while the singles stars received direct entry into the main draw.
Tennis events continued with other notable players, including men's 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic and women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who experienced early exits in the tournament. The USTA's reimagined approach to mixed doubles seems to have manifested in the anticipated semi-final line-up, showcasing the popularity of singles stars over doubles specialists.