Fifteen thousand fans packed Arthur Ashe Stadium for a spectacle that lasted two rounds but delivered drama, nostalgia and a surge of hope for those who crave tennis at its most charismatic. The pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams drew the crowd as they began a brief but blazing campaign in the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles event.
A crowd of 15,000, a comeback, and a new format’s growing pains
The event brought anticipation and upheaval. For the first time in memory, every mixed doubles specialist pairing fell before the semi-finals. Four teams featuring singles stars claimed all the semi-final spots, sharpening criticism that the new format, designed to lure marquee names, has edged out doubles stalwarts.
When Alcaraz and Williams took the court, the debate disappeared beneath the roar of 15,000 tennis faithful.
Serena Williams, 44, returned to her home Grand Slam four years after her emotional farewell in 2022. Carlos Alcaraz, a seven-time major winner, was testing his wrist in a first competitive outing since April. Across the net stood Great Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe, established doubles names.
Williams showed flashes of her old fire in a tense opening set, while Alcaraz wrestled with nerves and rust. They trailed early, but Williams uncorked a vintage cross-court winner at 3-3 in the first set, lifting both her partner and the crowd. Alcaraz, grinning wide, matched her energy as the pair won eight of the final nine games for a 5-3, 4-1 victory.
The numbers tell the tale:
| Match | Winner | Score | Notable Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | Alcaraz/Williams | 5-3, 4-1 | Won 8 of last 9 games, beat specialists |
| Quarter-final | Bencic/Cobolli | 5-4 (7-4), 4-1 | Alcaraz/Williams eliminated |
| Specialist Teams in Semis | 0 | All out by quarter-finals |
Their chemistry was infectious, with both players roaring encouragement after every big point. At one changeover, Alcaraz admitted: “I’m playing next to the one and only Serena Williams, so what else can I do? Just enjoy and try to do the things she told me to do.”
Quarter-final heartbreak and the end of an era for doubles specialists
The ride ended as quickly as it began. Italy’s Flavio Cobolli and Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, both top singles competitors, halted the fairytale in the quarter-finals.
Bencic and Cobolli edged the first set in a 7-4 tiebreak, then carried that momentum into a 4-1 second set. The result sent the crowd favorites out of the tournament and booked Bencic and Cobolli a place in the semis.
The defeat ended the road for the most anticipated mixed doubles pairing in years. No doubles specialist team reached the semi-finals, a sharp contrast to the previous year, when Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori captured the title for the purists.
Williams, nearly three decades removed from her 1998 mixed doubles triumph in New York and five years Alcaraz’s senior, played each point as if nothing had changed. Still shaking off the effects of a four-month wrist injury layoff, Alcaraz relished the chance to stand beside a legend and rediscover the buzz of Grand Slam nights.
Four singles-star duos remain in pursuit of the $1 million prize, including Bencic and Cobolli.
