Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz exit US Open mixed doubles in quarter-finals

Return to Arthur Ashe Stadium

Serena Williams returned to competitive tennis at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, partnering Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open mixed doubles draw. Williams entered the court 1,453 days after her 2022 defeat by Ajla Tomljanovic, which had marked the conclusion of her full-time career. Alcaraz, the 23-year-old world number two, was competing in his first match since suffering a wrist injury in April. Around 15,000 spectators filled the stadium during US Open Fan Week, which precedes the singles main draw starting on Sunday. Dressed in matching purple-and-black Nike kits, the duo brought a combined total of 30 Grand Slam singles titles onto the court.

Following her first appearance, Williams expressed surprise at competing in Queens again.

I never expected to be back on this court. I never thought this would happen.

Opening round recovery

The pair began their tournament against Britain's Lloyd Glasspool and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe, who had faced Williams three times over the summer. Alcaraz, wearing a white compression sleeve on his right arm, opened with a double fault as the doubles specialists moved to a 3-1 lead. Williams and Alcaraz then responded by winning eight of the next nine games to close out a 5-3, 4-1 victory. Williams produced several aces and net volleys, while Alcaraz found his footing after a four-month absence from the tour.

Speaking between games, Alcaraz discussed his approach to sharing the court with the 23-time Grand Slam singles winner.

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.

Quarter-final exit against Bencic and Cobolli

The run ended later Tuesday evening in the quarter-finals against Switzerland's Belinda Bencic and Italy's Flavio Cobolli, the men's world number six. Williams served the opening game of the match, but Bencic and Cobolli held firm to win 5-4 (7-4), 4-1 in 55 minutes. The defeat concluded Williams's first mixed doubles appearance at Flushing Meadows since she won the title with Max Mirnyi in 1998, five years before Alcaraz was born. Cobolli and Bencic advanced to Wednesday's semi-finals, while all four specialist doubles pairings in the draw suffered defeats against teams formed by singles competitors.

Tournament schedule and format context

The revamped mixed doubles format at Flushing Meadows has drawn criticism for favoring singles stars over doubles regulars. Organizers had initially kept a singles wildcard open for Williams before awarding it to Sofia Kenin when Williams declined solo competition. Williams is scheduled to play women's doubles at the tournament alongside Venus Williams, adding to the 14 Grand Slam doubles titles the sisters have won together. Alcaraz will turn his focus to the men's singles main draw starting on Sunday as he assesses his wrist fitness following the layoff.