Alcaraz and Williams thrill in brief but bright US Open mixed doubles showing

Alcaraz and Williams thrill in brief but bright US Open mixed doubles showing The revamped mixed doubles draw at this year’s US Open brought together two of the sport’s biggest singles names, Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams, for a short‑lived but memorable partnership. Alcaraz, who had not competed since April after a wrist injury, teamed with Williams, marking her first appearance in New York since she stepped away from the tour in 2022. Their opening encounter pitted them against Lloyd Glasspool of Great Britain and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand. The pair secured a 5‑3 4‑1 victory, energized by a crowd of roughly 15,000 filling Arthur Ashe Stadium. During the match, Williams was heard urging Alcaraz to “Enjoy it - and bash what Serena Williams tells you to.” Alcaraz later reflected on the experience, stating, “I'm playing adjacent to the 1 and lone Serena Williams, truthful what other tin I do? Just bask and effort to bash the things she told maine to do.” The duo’s chemistry showed early, as they captured eight of the final nine games to seal the win. Despite the early success, the quarter‑final stage ended their run. Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, ranked world No. 6, and Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic prevailed 5‑4 (7‑4) 4‑1. The loss meant that all four specialist doubles teams fell to squads built around singles stars on Tuesday, a outcome that has fueled criticism of the tournament’s revised format for prioritizing marquee names over traditional doubles specialists. Williams, a 23‑time Grand Slam champion, previously captured the US Open mixed doubles title in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi—five years before Alcaraz’s birth. Nearly three decades later, she demonstrated that her competitive fire remains intact, sharing smiles and celebratory roars with her younger partner after each point won. The brief alliance highlighted both the appeal and the controversy surrounding the event’s new structure, delivering a lively spectacle for fans while underscoring the ongoing debate over the balance between star power and discipline‑specific expertise in doubles competition.