Serena Williams will be joining forces with Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed doubles event at the upcoming U.S. Open, forming a formidable duo as confirmed by the U.S. Tennis Association on Saturday. The pair received a wild card entry into the tournament, which features a prize of $1 million for the winning team.
This marks Williams’ comeback to the U.S. Open after her last appearance in 2022. The renowned 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made her return to competitive tennis earlier this summer, showcasing her enduring passion for the sport.
Expressing his excitement, Alcaraz took to social media with a post exclaiming, “Let’s gooooo!” alongside a fire emoji, tagging Williams in their upcoming partnership. While Williams will not be competing in singles at this event, the USTA awarded the remaining women’s wild card to Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open victor.
After a knee injury setback during Wimbledon, Williams played doubles with her sister Venus at the Cincinnati Open. There is still the possibility that the Williams sisters may choose to team up for the U.S. Open doubles competition.
In a separate announcement, Alcaraz confirmed his return to defend his U.S. Open singles title after a hiatus due to a right wrist injury suffered in April. Notably, Williams had already clinched a mixed doubles title at the U.S. Open in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi, predating her singles victories at the tournament.
With the USTA’s recent revamp of the mixed doubles format, the tournament now features a competitive field aimed at attracting top singles players. Williams and Alcaraz, both former U.S. Open champions, stand out as a prominent pairing, adding further excitement to the event.
Several other updates to the field were announced, including new pairings due to player withdrawals. Notably, Americans Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz will team up, while additional wild cards were awarded to Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul, as well as Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik.
Furthermore, the field boasts a mix of established and emerging talents, with names like Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, and Leylah Fernandez set to compete alongside the dynamic duos in the mixed doubles lineup. The final spots for the tournament will be determined through an upcoming qualifying event, rounding out the competitive roster for this year’s U.S. Open.
