1 week ago
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz Exit US Open Mixed Doubles
Serena Williams returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium to play mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.
They won their first match against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool.
They then lost in the quarter-finals to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.
The matches used short sets and a special tiebreak instead of a normal third set.
Serena’s return was emotional because she had not competed there since her 2022 farewell.
Carlos was also playing again after missing about four months because of an injury.
Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka lost their first match with another famous team.
The tournament is designed to bring more singles stars and fans to mixed doubles, although some doubles specialists dislike the approach.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz defeated Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool before losing to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 5-4(4), 4-1.
The quarter-final defeat ended Williams and Alcaraz’s run in the revamped US Open mixed doubles tournament.
The match marked Williams’s first competitive appearance at Arthur Ashe Stadium since her 2022 farewell, while Alcaraz returned after a four-month injury absence.
Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka lost their opening match to Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten 1-4, 4-2, 10-2.
The star-focused format drew sellout crowds but faced criticism from doubles specialists who said it marginalized established pairings.
- Who
- Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz, Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli were involved in the quarter-final; Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten were also prominent participants.
- What
- Williams and Alcaraz reached the quarter-finals but lost to Bencic and Cobolli; Djokovic and Sabalenka were eliminated in the opening round.
- Where
- The US Open mixed doubles tournament at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York.
- When
- Tuesday, August 25, 2026; the semi-finals and final were scheduled for Wednesday.
- Why
- The revamped event was created to feature singles stars and attract more fans before the singles main draw.
Star-Focused Format Supporters
Traditional Doubles Critics
Purpose of the event
Star-Focused Format Supporters
Organizers and supporters say pairing prominent singles players can increase fan engagement, attract major names and bring larger crowds to mixed doubles.
Traditional Doubles Critics
Some doubles specialists argue that the format marginalizes established doubles pairings and gives less attention to players who specialize in doubles.
Singles stars versus doubles specialists
Star-Focused Format Supporters
The competition gives high-profile players such as Williams, Alcaraz, Djokovic and Sabalenka a way to connect with fans in mixed doubles.
Traditional Doubles Critics
Players including Karolina Muchova said experienced doubles specialists see the court differently and can force singles players to adjust.
Key facts
- Quarter-final result
- Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli defeated Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz 5-4(4), 4-1.
- Williams’s return
- It was Williams’s first competitive appearance at Arthur Ashe Stadium since her 2022 farewell.
- Alcaraz’s return
- Alcaraz had not played competitively since April because of an injury and wore a sleeve on his right arm.
- Opening-round result
- Williams and Alcaraz defeated Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1.
- Djokovic-Sabalenka result
- Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten defeated Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka 1-4, 4-2, 10-2.
- Defending champions
- Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani lost to Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev 1-4, 4-1, 11-9.
- Format and prize
- The first three rounds use sets to four games, tiebreaks at 4-all and a 10-point deciding tiebreak; the champions receive $1 million.
Quotes
Elina Svitolina
Ukrainian tennis player who advanced with Gael Monfils
“It was surreal to play against Carlos. Sometimes I was just standing at the volley or the return, and I was like, How did I end up on this court?' I don't really know. Just a huge honor. Obviously you can feel both of their auras.”
deccanchronicle.com
“It wasn't looking very good for a while, in this format we play one bad game and all of a sudden the first set's gone. We knew the same could happen in the second, and we played an amazing tie-break.”
rediff.com
Sources
US Open 2026: Serena-Alcaraz crash out in mixed doubles quarter-final
Serena Williams & Carlos Alcaraz knocked out of mixed doubles; Djokovic, Sabalenka also bow out at US Open
Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz Knocked Out of Mixed Doubles at US Open
Serena Williams-Alcaraz advance in US Open mixed doubles; Djokovic-Sabalenka out
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