It’s official: Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz to partner in US Open mixed doubles
Tennis NewsSunday, 23 August 2026 at 00:30
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz will finally partner at the US Open after the USTA confirmed Saturday that the two stars received a wild card into the mixed doubles tournament. The pairing had been rumored in recent days, and the announcement makes official one of the most anticipated teams in the 2026 event. They will join a 16-team field featuring several of the biggest names in tennis.
Williams will return to the US Open for the first time since 2022, when she played what was expected to be her final tournament in New York. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has won six US Open singles titles and also captured the mixed doubles trophy in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi, giving her an established history in the event beyond her singles record.
Alcaraz will arrive in New York as the world No. 2 and reigning US Open men's singles champion. The Spaniard announced this week that he will defend his title after being sidelined since April with a right wrist injury. His partnership with Williams will therefore be part of his competitive return before he begins his singles campaign and attempts to retain his title.
The mixed doubles tournament also gives Williams a confirmed competitive appearance during her return to tennis. She played singles at Wimbledon this summer before suffering a knee injury in her first-round defeat, then teamed with Venus Williams at the Cincinnati Open. She will now return to the US Open alongside one of the leading players of the current men's game.
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Serena returns to New York alongside Alcaraz
Williams will not play singles in New York this year after the USTA awarded its remaining women's singles wild card to Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion. Her mixed doubles partnership with Alcaraz is therefore her confirmed US Open competition, although she and Venus could still choose to enter the women's doubles tournament together.
The American's US Open record remains one of the defining achievements of her career. She won her first mixed doubles title in New York in 1998 with Mirnyi, before going on to claim six singles championships.
Alcaraz's presence adds a different competitive dimension to the partnership. The 23-year-old has not played since April because of his wrist injury and will now have an opportunity to compete in New York before his singles title defense.
The Spaniard is entering the tournament without recent match play, making his mixed doubles campaign a potentially useful first test ahead of his main objective. Alcaraz reacted to the confirmation on social media by tagging Williams and writing, “Let’s gooooo!”
The pairing will now take its place among a field specifically designed to bring leading singles players into mixed doubles, with the USTA again using the shortened format introduced for last year's edition.
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A star-studded 16-team field
The US Open mixed doubles tournament begins with qualifying on Monday, August 24, before the first round and quarterfinals are played Tuesday, August 25. The semifinals and final will take place Wednesday, August 26. The winning team will share a $1 million prize, while the final two main-draw places will be decided through an eight-team qualifying tournament.
The field includes Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, and defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz will also team up, while Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli and Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien are among the other direct entrants.
The competition uses a format designed to keep matches short while attracting singles stars. Through the semifinals, matches feature sets to four games, no-ad scoring and a 10-point tiebreak instead of a deciding third set. The championship match also uses no-ad scoring and a 10-point tiebreak, but is played as a more traditional best-of-three-set contest.
Main Draw— Direct Entrants
| # | Team |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka & Novak Djokovic |
| 2 | Jessica Pegula & Taylor Fritz |
| 3 | Iga Swiatek & Casper Ruud |
| 4 | Belinda Bencic & Flavio Cobolli |
| 5 | Amanda Anisimova & Learner Tien |
| 6 | Diana Shnaider & TBA |
Main Draw - Wild Cards
| # | Team |
| 1 | Sara Errani & Andrea Vavassori |
| 2 | Alexandra Eala & Felix Auger-Aliassime |
| 3 | Leylah Fernandez & Frances Tiafoe |
| 4 | Taylor Townsend & Alexander Zverev |
| 5 | Elina Svitolina & Gael Monfils |
| 6 | Serena Williams & Carlos Alcaraz |
| 7 | Jakub Mensik & Karolina Muchova |
| 8 | Emma Navarro & Tommy Paul |
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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- Great article! Thiem was similar to Del Potro in that both men had won Grand Slams and injured wrists each stole their careers away. Sad really.DaveyWavey22-08-2026
- I’m not quite sure what’s happening with Sabalenka but she is horrible on court when she’s losing (which is a lot lately). If you cannot control your self at all once you start losing matches - especially at 28 - you need to see a therapist or take a break from the sport. Terrible attitude. This is what represents the women’s tennis tour? Yikes!DaveyWavey20-08-2026
- Love Halep’s post! Very pointed yet simple.DaveyWavey20-08-2026
- He’s such a hypocritical douche! I remember when Sinner was out for three months on his ban and Kyrgios made such disparaging comments towards him and how awful he was. He’s such a mess of a human being.DaveyWavey19-08-2026
- Help me understand this. Nick tests positive for cocaine and gets suspended but Marketa gets banned for four years?Rapunzel19-08-2026
- Her main problem is that she needs a new coach. Her dad made her win the AO, but she needs somebody to make her stronger mentally, and improve her game.swantiez19-08-2026
- Stop the madness! Tournament directors operate in insanity everytime they give Venus a wildcard. They are using her just to rake in the money! Can she not see that!? They don't care about her! They care about the money. I cannot stand to see her play and now Serena has joined the madness. Unbelievable! They just need to retire and go enjoy their beautiful husbands and kids....smh. The madness is Unbelievable!!!Rapunzel18-08-2026
- The most egregious thing these Egomaniacs are doing is enough reason to STOP WASTING WILDCARDS. It's all plain and simple in this partial sentence by the author: "... the players trying to earn those main-draw spots certainly don’t need it."
mandoist18-08-2026 - Iga #3 and 4 slam winner ? The article is okay but check the very basic info on the players pleasedarwinobambino18-08-2026
- But pro tennis, like other sports & much of life, IS in the celebrity exemption business. Do we not look the other way when Krygios throws chairs around the court or Swiatek delays play to suit her own rhythm? Are we not right now making a BIG deal about Eala .. & making light of the fact that her fans are annoyingly boisterous. & are screwing with the timing of match play? Tourney decision-makers have been handing out wild cards to whomever they wish for a long time.. to players in their country, to former greats, to potential greats & maybe there are even 'secret' choices happening.. who knows. Yes, if I were Venus, I would be embarrassed by now.. & end it myself.. But if she wants to keep playing & directors have whatever reason they have for giving her another wild card, I'm going to watch her play with dignity & grace.. & maybe achieve a win.
tennishappens15-08-2026
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