Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz get US Open mixed doubles wildcard

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz will partner in the US Open mixed doubles after receiving a wildcard into the main draw. The competition will be played from 24 to 26 August, four days before the US Open singles draw begins.

The pairing brings together champions with a combined 44 Grand Slam singles and doubles titles. Williams is a 23-time Grand Slam singles winner, while Alcaraz has won seven major titles. Their entry is part of the tournament’s drive to feature leading singles players in the mixed doubles event.

Williams returned to tennis in June after stepping away from the sport four years earlier. She has played three doubles matches since then and also returned to singles at Wimbledon, where she lost in three sets to Maya Joint.

Her most recent doubles appearance came at the Cincinnati Open on Monday, when she played alongside sister Venus. The pair lost that match, which was Williams’ first contest since she injured her knee at Wimbledon.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, is set to compete for the first time in more than four months following a wrist injury. The mixed doubles event will therefore provide both players with competitive court time as they continue their returns.

The format was changed last year to bring more singles stars into the field, a decision that drew criticism from doubles specialists. Matches before the final use a shortened scoring system, with sets won at four games, no advantage points and a 10-point match tie-break instead of a deciding third set.

Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are the only doubles specialists to receive a main-draw wildcard. Other notable teams include Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, plus Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils.