It was a sensational pairing, one that existed for just two matches but produced enough magic to linger long after the scoreboard had stopped.
Serena Williams was on fire. Four years after her tearful farewell from the US Open and the sport, the 44-year-old returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium and reminded tennis fans that time had done little to dull her serve, reflexes or competitive fire.
And standing alongside her was Carlos Alcaraz.
The unlikely pair became one of the biggest attractions of the revamped US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, grinning and giggling their way through their opening-round win before their run ended in the quarter-finals.
The first-round match against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool was everything the New York crowd had hoped for. Williams served bombs, returned with power and produced the kind of quick reactions at the net that had made her one of the greatest players in tennis history.
Alcaraz, at times, looked almost like a fan himself.
The Spaniard joined in with his own athleticism and touch around the net, but there were moments when his reaction to Williams’ shots said everything. One point saw the pair scrambling across the court, combining power, speed and reflexes before earning a huge roar from the crowd.
They won 5-3, 4-1, but the score felt almost secondary to the occasion.
For Williams, this was a return to the biggest stage in American tennis after her emotional farewell in 2022. For Alcaraz, it was his first competitive appearance in almost five months after a wrist injury.
‘COOL PAIR’
He admitted afterwards that he was nervous.
“I think everyone could see, I double-faulted the first point. So I was really, really nervous,” Alcaraz said. “Playing alongside Serena, it’s still competition, full crowd. I was out for almost five months. I almost forget how I feel stepping on the court once again.”
Williams, he said, made the comeback easier.
“It was just a couple games. She made it really easy for me. Just trying to enjoy and go for it every time.”
Williams was enjoying herself too.
“The same thing. Just have fun,” she said. “This is such a bonus for us to be out here. To play with Carlos is honestly so cool. We’re just out here having fun.”
That chemistry helped turn the mixed doubles event into something more than a sideshow.
The US Open introduced the revamped format in 2025, moving mixed doubles into a standalone slot before the singles tournament and putting some of the sport’s biggest singles names on the court. The debut was a commercial success, with sellout crowds and a star-studded field, although some established doubles players criticised the format for marginalising specialist pairings.
The second edition again produced its share of drama. Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were beaten in the first round by Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova, the experienced doubles pair winning 1-4, 4-2, 10-2. Siniakova sealed the upset with an ace.
But even that could not compete with the spectacle of Serena and Alcaraz sharing a court. Their journey did not last long. They were beaten in the quarter-finals by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, bringing the curtain down on the star pairing after just two matches.Yet their brief run had already delivered what the organisers wanted from the new format: big names, big crowds and moments made for the highlights reel.
For one afternoon at Arthur Ashe, Serena was back where she belonged, producing vintage serves and reflexes. Alcaraz was beside her, smiling, competing and soaking it all in.
The scoreboard eventually caught up with them. The crowd, however, had already made its verdict clear.
– Ends
