Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams team up for US Open in huge announcement
Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams have been confirmed as a blockbuster pairing for the US Open mixed doubles tournament next week. The announcement comes just days after Alcaraz announced he is ready to return from his wrist injury in New York for the final Grand Slam of 2026.
And before the singles event, Alcaraz - who has not played since April - will team up with American icon Serena in an all-star duo at Flushing Meadows. The pair have an astonishing 46 combined Grand Slam titles in singles and doubles. Serena has not actually said yet if she will play singles in the United States but the USTA have reserved one final wildcard in case the 44-year-old opts in. She played singles at Wimbledon but lost her opening match, before teaming up with her sister Venus at the recent Cincinnati Open in the doubles.
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Defending men's singles champion Alcaraz and Serena won't be the only headline-grabbing duo in the mixed doubles. Women's world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Slam winner Novak Djokovic are among the other teams entered into the event.
Five of the men's top 10 will take part but Jannik Sinner is a notable absentee. The Italian world No.1 will not play in the singles due to a knee injury.
Sinner confirmed on Friday: "Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year.
"We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue. I'm obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart."
Jack Draper is another who will skip both the mixed doubles and singles events at the US Open due to a long-term arm injury. The Brit has not played at any of this year's four Slams as he struggles with his fitness.
Elsewhere, the pairings of Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev and Peyton Stearns and Christian Harrison have been given wildcards into the qualifying event on Grandstand on Monday (24th).
Also in the qualifying pool are doubles world No.1s Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten and the duo of Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool, both also former world No.1s in doubles.
The mixed doubles main draw then takes place on Tuesday (25th) and Wednesday (26th). The winning team will go home with £733,000 ($1million) in prize money.