The U.S. Tennis Association confirmed that 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz have received a wild-card entry into the mixed doubles draw at the upcoming U.S. Open.
The marquee pairing brings together two iconic generations of tennis stars for the tournament’s main draw at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Celebrating the news on social media platform X, Alcaraz shared his excitement by posting, “Let’s gooooo!” accompanied by a fire emoji while tagging Williams.
The event marks Williams’ first appearance at Flushing Meadows since she stepped away from competition in 2022. After launching a summer comeback following a four-year hiatus, the 44-year-old boasts strong history in the discipline, having captured the 1998 U.S. Open mixed doubles title alongside Max Mirnyi prior to winning any of her six singles crowns in New York. Organizers awarded the final women’s singles wild card to 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, confirming Williams will focus on doubles action rather than the singles field.
Alcaraz enters the tournament seeking both match practice and a defense of his men’s singles title. The Spaniard was sidelined for four months due to a right wrist injury sustained in April, forcing him to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon. Partnering with Williams marks his second career Grand Slam mixed doubles appearance, following a 2025 outing at the U.S. Open alongside Emma Raducanu.
The blockbuster duo joins a star-studded 16-team mixed doubles lineup, which was recently revamped into a streamlined, high-stakes competition. Other notable pairings featured in the field include world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka alongside Novak Djokovic, Americans Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, and two-time defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.
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