In a surprising and entertaining run at the US Open mixed‑doubles event, the high‑profile duo of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz captured the imagination of fans by advancing to the quarter‑finals before succumbing to the fourth‑seeded team of Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli. Their partnership, which combined the experience of a 23‑time Grand Slam singles champion with the youthful vigor of a reigning men’s champion, provided a memorable storyline for a tournament that has been experimenting with a revamped mixed‑doubles format.
Williams, now 44, made her return to competitive tennis in June after a two‑year hiatus, marking her comeback with a victory that was her first professional win since 2022. Teaming up with Alcaraz, the Spaniard who had been sidelined by a wrist injury since April, the pair opened their campaign against the British pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Erin Routliffe. The match began slowly for the American‑Spanish team, but they rallied to take the first set 5‑3 and the second 4‑1, delighting the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium with a display of powerful serving, crisp net play, and the occasional flash of Williams’ trademark athleticism. "I never expected to be back on this court," Williams said in the post‑match interview, her voice tinged with both disbelief and joy.
"I never thought this would happen." Her words underscored the emotional weight of the moment: a legend returning to the sport she helped popularise, now sharing the court with a player who represents the next generation of tennis royalty. Alcaraz, only 22, was born five years after Williams captured the 1998 mixed‑doubles title at Flushing Meadows, a fact that added a poetic symmetry to their collaboration. For the Spaniard, the match was his first competitive appearance since the wrist injury forced him out of the tour in April. He used the opportunity to test his game in a format that emphasizes quick reflexes and aggressive poaching, skills that have become hallmarks of his singles success.
The synergy between the two was evident, even if their styles differ markedly; Williams brought her seasoned court sense and powerful groundstrokes, while Alcaraz contributed his speed, fearless shot‑making, and a willingness to attack the net. The quarter‑final showdown against Bencic and Cobolli proved to be a tougher test. The Swiss‑Italian pair entered the match with a reputation for solid baseline consistency and a strong doubles pedigree. After a tightly contested first set that ended 5‑4 in favor of Bencic and Cobolli, the second set slipped away 4‑1, ending the fairy‑tale run for the Williams‑Alcaraz team.
Cobolli later praised their opponents, referring to them as "the queen of tennis and the king of now," a nod to Williams’s iconic status and Alcariz’s meteoric rise. Williams’ future in doubles remains an open question. She has already ruled out a repeat of her singles comeback at Wimbledon, but speculation abounds about whether she might join forces with her older sister Venus in the women’s doubles draw.
A sisterly partnership would not only be a nostalgic draw for fans but could also provide a strategic advantage, given both sisters’ deep understanding of each other's game. The mixed‑doubles event itself has undergone significant changes this year.
Organisers trimmed the field and scheduled the competition in the week preceding the singles main draw, aiming to attract top singles players who might otherwise skip the format. The revised schedule and reduced draw size were designed to give the mixed‑doubles a standalone presence on the calendar, encouraging media coverage and fan engagement.
The gamble paid off: the tournament sold out its venues and attracted a slew of high‑profile participants, despite criticism from some traditional doubles specialists who argued that the new format marginalised established pairings. In the broader context of the US Open, other notable upsets occurred. Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, both multiple Grand Slam champions, were eliminated in their opening mixed‑doubles match by the British duo of Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova. After taking the first set 1‑4, Djokovic and Sabalenka appeared to be in control, but Patten and Siniakova rallied to claim the second set 4‑2 and then dominated the match tiebreak 10‑2, sealing the upset with an ace on match point.
Patten reflected on the volatility of the format, noting that a single bad game can swing momentum dramatically. The tournament also highlighted the continued success of Italian pair Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who had retained the mixed‑doubles title the previous year by defeating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in the final. This year, however, they suffered an early exit, illustrating the depth of competition and the unpredictable nature of the revamped format. Emerging talents also made their mark.
Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev knocked out the defending champions in the opening round with a 1‑4, 4‑1, 11‑9 victory, before advancing to the semifinals after a hard‑fought win over Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud. Their next challenge will be against the Czech team of Karolína Muchova and Jakub Mensik, while Bencic and Cobolli will meet the husband‑and‑wife pair of Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, who themselves had edged past Patten and Siniakova in the quarter‑finals.
The semifinals are slated for Wednesday night and will revert to traditional best‑of‑three sets, offering a more conventional tennis experience for viewers. The eventual champions will not only claim the title but also demonstrate the viability of the mixed‑doubles format as a compelling component of Grand Slam tournaments.
For fans seeking to follow the action, the US Open matches are being streamed live on Sky Sports and the NOW platform, with additional coverage available via the Sky Sports app. The tournament continues to draw global attention, showcasing both the enduring legends of the sport and the rising stars who will shape its future.