Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz Return at US Open
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Serena Williams returned to the US Open on Tuesday alongside Carlos Alcaraz for the mixed doubles event at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The American icon competed in New York for the first time since her farewell tour. Alcaraz returned after a four month absence due to a wrist injury. The pair defeated Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool five to three and four to one in their opening match. Williams delivered a powerful one hundred twenty mile per hour ace during the contest. Alcaraz contributed key winners to secure the victory. Later in the quarterfinals, Williams and Alcaraz faced Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli. Bencic and Cobolli defeated the star duo five to four and four to one, eliminating them from the tournament. Organizers introduced the revamped mixed doubles format to feature top singles stars before the main draw. The high profile pairing generated intense fan interest and packed the stadium seats.
More context
Timeline
- On September 10, 2022: Serena Williams played her final professional singles match at Flushing.
- On April 15, 2026: Carlos Alcaraz suffered a severe right wrist injury during training.
- On August 20, 2026: Tournament officials announced the blockbuster mixed doubles wild card pairing.
- On August 26, 2026, at 12:30 AM: Serena and Carlos won their opening round match easily today.
- On August 26, 2026, at 2:00 AM: Bencic and Cobolli eliminated the star duo quickly in quarters.
- On August 26, 2026, at 5:00 AM: Fans celebrated the unforgettable return of tennis royalty at Arthur.
- Carlos Alcaraz will defend his US Open singles title next.
- Tennis experts will evaluate the revamped mixed doubles format thoroughly.
- Serena Williams will announce her future tournament participation plans publicly.
- Fans will speculate regarding another potential tennis comeback appearance soon.
Why it matters
Immediate US impact: Boosted US tennis television ratings and Flushing Meadows ticket sales. Possible long-term US impact: Permanent reshaping of tournament formats to attract mainstream sports fans. Most affected groups: American tennis fans, tournament organizers, ticket buyers, and sports broadcasters. Reader priority: Official tournament announcements, verified match scores, and player press conferences.
Coverage notes
Left: Emphasized cultural significance and generational collaboration in professional tennis sports. Center: Focused strictly on match scores, player stats, and tournament results. Right: Highlighted individual athletic excellence, comeback resilience, and entertainment ticket value.
Primary report
On August 26, 2026, Associated Press reported Serena and Alcaraz matches.
Sources
- New York Times
- Washington Post
- Los Angeles Times
- CNN
- Associated Press
- India Today
- ANI News
- Hindustan Times
- Rediff Sports
- Hindustan Times
- NBC Sports
- NBC Sports
- NBC Sports
- CBS Sports
- ESPN
- Reuters
- Yahoo Sports
- CBS Sports
- Fox Sports
- Bleacher Report
- USA Today
- Sports Illustrated
- The Athletic
- Tennis.com
- BBC Sport
- NPR
- ABC News
- Wall Street Journal
- Fox News
- New York Post
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