Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz receive US Open mixed doubles wildcard

Wildcard pairing at Flushing Meadows

Serena Williams will partner with Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed doubles tournament at the 2026 US Open. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) confirmed on Saturday, 22 August 2026, that the pair received one of the final three wildcards for the main draw. Together, the American and Spanish players hold a combined total of 44 Grand Slam singles and doubles titles. The appearance will be Williams' first competitive event at Flushing Meadows since 2022. The 44-year-old American has won 23 Grand Slam singles championships, including six US Open singles titles starting with her first victory in 1999. She also won the US Open mixed doubles championship in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi and previously partnered Andy Murray at Wimbledon in 2019, reaching the third round. Alcaraz, 23, enters the tournament as the defending men's singles champion after winning US Open titles in 2022 and 2025.

Returns from injury and competitive preparations

Williams announced her return to competitive tennis in June 2026 after nearly four years away from the professional circuit, having previously stepped aside from the sport. Her singles comeback at Wimbledon ended in a three-set first-round defeat against Maya Joint, during which Williams sustained a knee injury. Since launching her comeback, she has played three doubles matches. Williams returned to action on Monday at the Cincinnati Open alongside her elder sister Venus Williams, where the pair lost in the opening round in their first tournament together since 2022. Williams has not yet confirmed whether she will enter the singles draw in New York. Alcaraz is returning to Grand Slam competition after being sidelined from tour matches since April with an injury to his right wrist.

Tournament schedule and court allocations

The mixed doubles competition precedes the singles main draws in New York and will begin with qualifying rounds on Monday, 24 August 2026. The main draw matches will start on Tuesday, 25 August, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The opening round and quarterfinal fixtures will take place across Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, with tournament organizers offering free admission for spectators attending matches on Louis Armstrong Stadium. The semifinals and the final will both be held on Wednesday, 26 August, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with play scheduled to begin at 19:00 local time. The winning doubles pair will receive a prize purse of $1,000,000.

Competitive field and wildcard entries

The USTA awarded the last three main draw wildcards to Williams and Alcaraz, Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, and Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul. Organizers previously allocated a wildcard to the Italian team of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. The draw features multiple high-profile pairings from the singles rankings, including women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka teaming with Novak Djokovic. Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz will form an American partnership following the withdrawal of British player Jack Draper. The tournament also includes the pairing of Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, who finished as runners-up in the 2025 mixed doubles final, as well as the husband-and-wife duo of Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina.