Williams, Alcaraz Bow Out in US Open Mixed Doubles Quarters
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz reach the US Open mixed doubles quarters before falling to fourth seeds Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.
The update
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarter-finals of the US Open mixed doubles before falling to fourth seeds Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli. The star pairing won their opening match, with Williams returning to the court for the first time since 2022 and Alcaraz returning from a four-month injury layoff. They ultimately lost the quarter-final match 5-4 (4), 4-1.
Why it matters
This run marks a high-profile reunion on the court for Williams, who is 44, and Alcaraz, a 22-year-old defending champion. Their presence drew significant attention to the mixed doubles event, highlighting the continued popularity of the sport’s biggest names even as established doubles specialists were eliminated in the first round.
What to watch
Whether Williams will seek an encore performance in women’s doubles alongside her sister Venus remains an open question. The tournament’s revamped mixed doubles format has also drawn scrutiny for prioritizing singles stars over doubles specialists.
Sources
- skysports.com — Match score, Williams' return context, Alcaraz's injury context.
- BBC — Atmosphere, format criticism, doubles specialists' first-round exits.
- espn.com — Match score, Williams' age and return context, Alcaraz's wrist injury context.