Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz have joined forces to form a formidable mixed doubles team for the upcoming U.S. Open tournament. The U.S. Tennis Association recently granted them a wild card entry into the mixed doubles main draw, where the winning pair will share a prize of $1 million US.
This marks Williams’ first appearance at the U.S. Open since 2022, as the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made a return to tennis earlier this summer. While Alcaraz expressed his excitement for the partnership on social media, Williams has decided not to compete in singles at the New York event.
Following her recent knee injury at Wimbledon, Williams teamed up with her sister Venus for doubles at the Cincinnati Open. However, for the U.S. Open, Williams will pair up with Alcaraz in mixed doubles. Alcaraz, the two-time U.S. Open men’s champion ranked No. 2, also announced his return to defend his U.S. Open singles title after recovering from a right wrist injury.
The USTA made several updates to the tournament field due to player withdrawals. American players Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz will now team up, while Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul, as well as Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, received wild cards for the main draw. Additionally, Diana Shnaider will have the opportunity to find a new partner after Daniil Medvedev’s withdrawal.
The U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament has undergone changes, now featuring a two-day, 16-team format aimed at attracting top singles players. Notable pairings include Sabalenka and Djokovic, Fernandez and Tiafoe, and Svitolina and Monfils, among others. The remaining two spots will be filled through an eight-team qualifying tournament, with the USTA granting wild cards to certain teams, ensuring an exciting and competitive event.