Serena Williams and Alcaraz to play mixed doubles at US Open

Tennis legends Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are set to make a surprising mixed doubles appearance together at the upcoming US Open. Organizers of the final Grand Slam of the year in New York announced that both the 23-time Grand Slam champion from the USA and the 23-year-old Spaniard have been granted a wildcard for the doubles main draw.

The mixed doubles competition is scheduled to begin with qualifying next Monday, followed by the main draw on Tuesday. This pairing introduces a formidable duo to the event, which will also feature other top players like Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka.

For Alcaraz, this marks his comeback to the tour after a significant four-month absence due to a wrist injury sustained in April. The injury forced him to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon. Despite the layoff, he remains ranked third in the world, behind Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev. Notably, Sinner will not participate in the US Open due to a knee injury.

This appearance will be a return to the US Open for Williams, who last competed in singles there in 2022. She has a history of success at the tournament, having won the mixed doubles title in 1998 with Max Mirnyi. It remains uncertain whether Williams will also compete in the singles event, unlike her sister Venus Williams, who is 46. Williams made her comeback earlier in July at Wimbledon.