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US Open mixed doubles 2026: Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz given wildcard draw

Tennis icon Serena Williams returns to the US Open in a high-profile mixed doubles pairing with Carlos Alcaraz via a tournament wildcard.

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📍 How it ended

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were granted a wildcard draw to compete together in the 2026 US Open mixed doubles tournament, marking Williams's return to the event. The announcement prompted debate among fans, while it was confirmed that Williams would not play in the singles competition.

Following this coverage, the story quieted without a definitive conclusion in the subsequent headlines.

Epilogue added 66d ago, after coverage quieted.

The brief

Serena Williams has returned to the US Open to compete in the mixed doubles tournament, pairing with Carlos Alcaraz. The duo was granted a wildcard entry for the 2026 event, according to official announcements from US Open Tennis. While Williams is returning to the tournament for this specific event, coverage from ESPN clarifies that she will not be participating in the US Open singles competition. Other players granted wildcards for the mixed doubles draw included the pairing of Navarro and Paul. The partnership between Williams and Alcaraz has already seen action on the court, though ESPN reports that the pair has since been knocked out of the competition.

Major news outlets have heavily documented the pairing, with The New York Times and The Guardian highlighting how the return of Serena Williams thrilled the New York crowd. BBC and AP News also provided coverage of the team-up, with the latter providing photographic documentation of the top tennis stars. The narrative across these reports emphasizes the spectacle of the pairing, while Yahoo Sports noted that the announcement sparked significant debate among fans, with reactions ranging from those who felt the pairing made no sense to those describing the move as a slay. This event is significant as it marks a high-profile return to the court for Serena Williams. The context provided by NBC News and CBS News emphasizes that this mixed doubles appearance serves as her return to the US Open.

By teaming up with Carlos Alcaraz, a current top star, the tournament created a cross-generational pairing that drew substantial international attention from outlets including Sky Sports and Al Jazeera, underscoring the global interest in Williams' presence at the event regardless of the specific format of play. Future developments will likely focus on the aftermath of their exit from the mixed doubles draw. Since ESPN has already confirmed that Williams and Alcaraz are out of the tournament, subsequent coverage may address whether this appearance signals further competitive returns for Williams or if it was a standalone event for the 2026 US Open. For now, the factual record established by US Open Tennis and various reporting agencies confirms the wildcard status, the pairing, and the eventual conclusion of their run in the doubles bracket.

Synthesized by PULSE from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 66d ago.

Quick answers

Who is Serena Williams partnering with for the 2026 US Open?

Serena Williams is partnering with Carlos Alcaraz for the mixed doubles tournament.

Is Serena Williams playing in the singles tournament?

No, according to ESPN, Serena Williams will not play US Open singles.

How did Williams and Alcaraz enter the mixed doubles draw?

They were granted a wildcard entry by US Open Tennis.

Coverage (30)

Topics

Serena Williams Carlos Alcaraz US Open Mixed Doubles

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