The high‑profile partnership of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz captured the imagination of the US Open crowd when they advanced to the mixed‑doubles quarter‑finals, only to be stopped by the fourth‑seeded team of Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli. Williams, a 23‑time Grand Slam singles champion who made a comeback to professional tennis in June at the age of 44, celebrated her first tour‑level victory since 2022 when she and Alcaraz defeated the British duo of Lloyd Glasspool and Erin Routliffe in the opening round.
For Alcaraz, the 22‑year‑old reigning men’s singles champion, it was a return to competition after a wrist injury forced him out of action since April, marking his first match back on the circuit. The pair’s chemistry was evident from the start, even though they began slowly.
After dropping the first game, Williams and Alcaraz rallied to take the opening set 5‑3, then surged ahead in the second set to close it out 4‑1. The crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium responded with enthusiastic applause, delighted to see two of the sport’s biggest stars sharing the court.
"I never expected to be back on this court," Williams said afterwards, her voice tinged with emotion. "I never thought this would happen." Her words underscored the rarity of seeing a legend of her stature return to Grand Slam competition, especially in a mixed‑doubles format that is often dominated by specialist teams.
The quarter‑final match against Bencic and Cobolli proved to be a tougher test. The Swiss‑Italian pair entered the match with confidence, having been seeded fourth and already boasting a reputation for aggressive net play. They managed to edge out the Williams‑Alcariz team 5‑4, 4‑1, ending the run of the celebrity duo. In pre‑match interviews, Bencic had referred to her opponents as "the queen of tennis and the king of now," a nod to Williams' legendary status and Alcaraz's current dominance in the men's game.
Their victory was a reminder that, despite the star power, mixed doubles still rewards teamwork, consistency, and tactical sharpness. Williams now faces a decision about her future involvement in doubles competition. She has already ruled out a repeat appearance in the singles draw at Wimbledon, but speculation remains about whether she might partner with her older sister Venus in women’s doubles.
The prospect of a Williams sisters pairing would be a historic moment, potentially drawing massive viewership and adding another chapter to the family’s storied tennis legacy. The tournament also saw other major upsets in the mixed‑doubles field. Top‑seeded Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, both multiple‑time Grand Slam champions, were eliminated in their opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium by Britain’s Henry Patten and Czech star Katerina Siniakova. After taking the first set 1‑4, Djokovic and Sabalenka appeared to have momentum, but Patten and Siniakova rallied to claim the second set 4‑2 and then dominated the match tiebreak 10‑2.
Siniakova sealed the upset with an ace on match point, ending the hopes of the high‑profile duo. Patten reflected on the volatility of the format, noting that a single poor game can swing an entire set in this fast‑paced version of doubles. The mixed‑doubles event this year was staged a week before the singles main draw, following a format overhaul introduced last season. Organisers reduced the field size and gave the competition a standalone slot on the calendar to entice top singles players to participate.
The changes proved commercially successful, drawing sell‑out crowds and attracting many of tennis’s biggest names, although some doubles purists argued that the new structure marginalised established specialist pairings. Italian pair Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who had retained the title the previous year by defeating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, suffered a first‑round exit in the current edition.
Meanwhile, the Russian duo Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev upset the defending champions 1‑4, 4‑1, 11‑9 in the opening round and then secured a semi‑final berth with a 4‑1, 4‑5, 10‑5 win over Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud. Their next challenge will be against Czech teammates Karolína Muchova and Jakub Mensik in a Wednesday semi‑final. On the other side of the draw, Bencic and Cobolli will meet the husband‑and‑wife team of Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, who advanced after edging Patten and Siniakova in the round of eight. The two semi‑finals are scheduled for Wednesday night and will revert to the traditional best‑of‑three sets format, with each set played to six games rather than the shortened scoring used earlier in the tournament.
For fans wanting to follow the action, live streams of both the ATP and WTA tours are available on Sky Sports, and the US Open coverage will continue on the platform from August 30 onward. The tournament’s mixed‑doubles competition, with its blend of star power, surprising upsets, and evolving format, offers a fresh narrative that complements the more traditional singles events and showcases the versatility of today’s tennis champions.