Carlos Alcaraz reappears with a victory alongside Serena Williams in US Open mixed doubles

Carlos Alcaraz made a triumphant return to the court after a four-month absence due to a wrist injury, teaming up with tennis legend Serena Williams for mixed doubles at the US Open. The dynamic duo secured a comeback victory in their first-round match against Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and Britain's Lloyd Glasspool, winning 5-3 and 4-1 on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The match, which lasted 58 minutes, saw Alcaraz and Williams advance to the second round, where they are scheduled to face Belinda Bencic of Switzerland and Flavio Cobolli of Italy. The mixed doubles event at the US Open features a $1 million prize for the winning pair, with matches taking place Tuesday and Wednesday.

Arthur Ashe Stadium erupted in cheers as Williams and Alcaraz were announced, marking Williams' first appearance on the court in four years since her initial retirement from singles in 2022. For Alcaraz, it was a nostalgic return to the venue where he clinched his first Grand Slam title and ascended to the world number one ranking four years prior. The young Spaniard, a favorite among New York fans, holds fond memories of the stadium, having won another Grand Slam title there last year.

Despite a slow start where they were immediately broken, Alcaraz and Williams rallied. Alcaraz overcame early serving struggles, saving two set points against him to help turn the tide. They then won four consecutive games to clinch the first set 5-3, with a powerful forehand winner from Williams and a decisive shot from Alcaraz sealing the set. Carrying that momentum, both players elevated their game in the second set, dominating their opponents to win 4-1 and continue their run in the tournament.