Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are set to make a formidable mixed doubles team as they join forces for the upcoming U.S. Open tournament. The U.S. Tennis Association confirmed that the duo has received a wild card entry into the mixed doubles main draw, which kicks off on Tuesday and offers a prize of $1 million.
This marks Williams’ return to the U.S. Open after her last appearance in 2022. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made a comeback to the sport earlier this summer, and Alcaraz expressed his excitement by posting a message on social media, tagging Williams and adding a fire emoji.
While Williams is not slated to compete in the singles event, she will team up with Alcaraz for mixed doubles. Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, received the women’s wild card that was initially thought to be reserved for Williams.
Having recently recovered from a knee injury sustained during Wimbledon, Williams paired up with her sister Venus at the Cincinnati Open. Alcaraz, on the other hand, announced his return to defend his U.S. Open singles title after being sidelined due to a wrist injury since April.
The mixed doubles tournament has undergone changes and now features a two-day, 16-team format aimed at attracting top singles players. Among the notable pairs are Williams and Alcaraz, as well as Jessica Pegula with Taylor Fritz, Emma Navarro with Tommy Paul, and Karolina Muchova with Jakub Mensik, who received wild cards into the main draw.
Additionally, the field saw updates with the withdrawal of some players, leading to new partnerships like Diana Shnaider being given the opportunity to find a new teammate after Daniil Medvedev’s withdrawal. The competition is also set to include other prominent pairs such as Sabalenka and Djokovic, Swiatek and Ruud, and Bencic and Cobolli, among others.
The remaining spots in the tournament will be determined through an eight-team qualifying tournament, with wild cards granted to specific teams. These changes reflect the USTA’s efforts to enhance the mixed doubles event and attract a competitive lineup for the U.S. Open.