Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz receive US Open mixed doubles wildcard
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and the defending men's singles champion will compete together in New York under a wildcard entry in the revamped 16-team event.
Wildcard pairing at Flushing Meadows
Serena Williams will partner defending men's singles champion Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed doubles draw at the 2026 US Open after receiving a wildcard from the United States Tennis Association. The appearance will be Williams' first competitive match at Flushing Meadows since 2022, when she fell in the third round of singles against Ajla Tomljanovic. Williams is not scheduled to play singles in New York, and tournament organisers awarded that reserved singles wildcard to 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. Williams previously won the US Open mixed doubles title in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi, who currently works with world number one Aryna Sabalenka. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion returned to action earlier this summer, playing singles at Wimbledon and doubles with Venus Williams at the Cincinnati Open.
Alcaraz confirmed the announcement on social media ahead of the tournament draw.
Alcaraz tests fitness ahead of singles title defense
For world number two Alcaraz, the mixed doubles competition provides match play following a four-month absence from the tour. The Spaniard has been sidelined since April 14, 2026, due to a right wrist injury suffered at a tournament in Barcelona. Alcaraz returned to practice this week and will defend his 2025 US Open men's singles title when singles competition begins on August 30, 2026. The men's singles field will not include ATP world number one Jannik Sinner, who withdrew from the tournament because of a right knee injury. Alcaraz owns seven Grand Slam singles titles, including US Open trophies in 2022 and 2025, and will seek his eighth Grand Slam crown in New York.
Revamped 16-team format and prize money
The United States Tennis Association revamped the mixed doubles competition into a compact 16-team tournament designed to attract top singles competitors. The two-day event begins on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with the champions sharing a $1 million prize. First-round matches and quarterfinals will take place on August 25 across Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, where admission will be free for fans. The semifinals and final will be played on August 26 at Arthur Ashe Stadium starting at 19:00 local time. Teams will need to win three matches to advance to the final.
- Carlos Alcaraz suffers right wrist injury in Barcelona, beginning four-month layoff
- Serena Williams announces return to competitive tennis
- USTA awards final mixed doubles wildcards to Williams, Alcaraz and other pairs
- First-round matches and quarterfinals take place across Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums
- Semifinals and final take place on Arthur Ashe Stadium starting at 19:00 local time
- US Open singles main draw competition begins at Flushing Meadows
High-profile pairings across the draw
The 16-team draw features several prominent singles players in mixed combinations. World number one Aryna Sabalenka will partner Novak Djokovic, while Americans Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz joined forces after original partners Jack Draper and Elena Rybakina withdrew due to injuries. The USTA allocated its other two wildcards to Czech pair Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik and American duo Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul. Two-time defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori return to defend their title. Other entrants include Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien, Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils, and Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev. Diana Shnaider was granted permission to find a replacement partner following Daniil Medvedev's withdrawal.
