Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz Knocked Out of US Open Mixed Doubles in Quarterfinals

Serena Williams’ emotional return to the U.S. Open and Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback from injury ended sooner than many fans hoped Tuesday, as the star-studded pair was eliminated in the mixed doubles quarterfinals.

Williams and Alcaraz lost to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 5-4 (4), 4-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The defeat came after the former champions had thrilled a packed crowd earlier in the day with a comeback victory in their opening match.

The result ended a highly anticipated reunion with the U.S. Open spotlight for Williams, 44, who had not played at the tournament since 2022, and a competitive return for Alcaraz following a wrist injury that had kept him off the tour since April.

Serena Williams Returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium

Williams’ return was one of the biggest stories of the U.S. Open’s mixed doubles event.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion last competed at the U.S. Open in 2022, when she appeared to be ending her playing career. Her return this summer has added another unexpected chapter to one of tennis’ most celebrated careers.

Playing alongside Alcaraz, Williams looked comfortable during their opening match. The duo recovered from a slow beginning to defeat Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1 and advance to the quarterfinals.

“I never expected to be back on this court,” Williams said afterward, describing the moment as something she never thought would happen.

The crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium responded enthusiastically throughout the match, with fans clearly embracing the unusual partnership.

Alcaraz Was Returning From a Four-Month Injury Layoff

For Alcaraz, the tournament represented a very different kind of comeback.

The defending U.S. Open men’s singles champion had not played competitively since suffering a right wrist injury in Barcelona in April. The injury kept him out of the French Open and Wimbledon before his return in New York.

The rust showed early.

Alcaraz double-faulted on the opening point of his first match and admitted he was nervous after spending months away from competition.

But Williams helped settle the partnership, and the two quickly found their rhythm.

Their opening-round victory gave fans a glimpse of what the pairing could produce when Williams’ powerful returns and Alcaraz’s athleticism came together.

Bencic and Cobolli End the Fairytale

The quarterfinal was a different story.

Bencic and Cobolli, the fourth-seeded team, handled the key moments better and prevented Williams and Alcaraz from building another comeback.

The first set remained on serve before reaching a tiebreak. Bencic and Cobolli then won the crucial points to take it 5-4 (4).

Cobolli and Bencic carried that momentum into the second set, breaking serve and eventually closing out a 4-1 victory in just 55 minutes.

Cobolli had previously described the prospect of facing Williams and Alcaraz as a daunting experience, while Bencic said the presence of both stars made the match feel surreal.

Despite the star power on the opposite side, the Swiss-Italian pair stayed composed when the biggest points arrived.

The New US Open Mixed Doubles Format

The match was played under the revamped format introduced for the 2026 U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament.

Through the semifinals, matches use sets played to four games, no-ad scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a traditional third set. The final will use traditional sets played to six games.

The format is designed to bring some of the sport’s biggest singles names into mixed doubles and create a faster, more spectator-friendly event.

The 16-team competition also carries a $1 million prize for the champions, with $500,000 going to the runners-up.

Will Serena Williams Play Again at the US Open?

Williams’ mixed doubles appearance does not mean she is returning to singles competition.

The 44-year-old has no plans to play singles at this year’s U.S. Open. Her mixed doubles run instead offered fans a rare chance to see one of the greatest players in tennis history back on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

There is also interest in whether Williams could continue playing doubles with her older sister Venus in the future. The sisters have won 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles together, including two U.S. Open championships.

For now, however, Serena’s mixed doubles comeback is over.

Who Is Still Alive in the Mixed Doubles Tournament?

Bencic and Cobolli advanced to the semifinals, where they are scheduled to face Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils.

The other semifinal features Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik against Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev. The semifinals and final are scheduled for Wednesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Williams and Alcaraz may have fallen short of the title, but their brief partnership delivered exactly what the revamped event was designed to create: a major tennis spectacle featuring two generations of stars on the same court.

For Williams, it was another unexpected U.S. Open chapter. For Alcaraz, it was a first competitive step back after a long injury absence.

And for the fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, it was a comeback they will remember.