Tennis legends Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are set to team up for the US Open mixed doubles competition.
The star pairing has received a wildcard into the main draw. Together, they bring an incredible record of 44 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles.
Their partnership will be one of the biggest attractions of this year’s revamped mixed doubles event.
Serena Williams Returns to the US Open
Serena Williams returned to competitive tennis in June. Her comeback came four years after she stepped away from the sport.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has since played three doubles matches.
She also returned to singles action at Wimbledon. However, she lost a three-set battle against Maya Joint.
Williams will not compete in the US Open singles event this year.
The final wildcard went to fellow American Sofia Kenin instead.
Serena recently played doubles with her sister Venus at the Cincinnati Open. However, the sisters lost their opening match.
The defeat came in Serena’s first match since she suffered a knee injury at Wimbledon.
Carlos Alcaraz Makes His Return
Carlos Alcaraz will also return to competitive action in New York.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has been out for more than four months because of a wrist injury.
His partnership with Serena gives fans a rare chance to see two generations of tennis greatness on the same court.
Both players will hope to make the most of the mixed doubles event before the singles competition begins.
US Open Mixed Doubles Gets a New Format
The US Open mixed doubles tournament was revamped last year.
The changes were designed to attract more attention to the competition. As a result, more singles stars have been included in the event.
The top six pairs with the best combined singles rankings earned direct entry into the main draw.
Another eight teams received wildcards.
Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are the only specialist doubles pair to receive a main-draw wildcard.
Other doubles specialists must compete in an eight-team qualifying event.
More Tennis Stars Join the Competition
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are not the only major names competing.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka will partner 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
American stars Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz will also form a team.
Meanwhile, six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek will partner Casper Ruud.
Another exciting pairing features Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and her husband, Gael Monfils.
The tournament will be especially significant for Monfils. It will be his final Grand Slam appearance before retirement.
Doubles Players Criticised the Changes
The changes to the mixed doubles event have attracted criticism from some doubles specialists.
Errani and Vavassori were among those who questioned the new format last year.
Despite their concerns, the Italian pair went on to win the tournament.
They were the only specialist doubles team invited to compete in the main draw. They also collected $1 million in prize money after winning the title.
Faster Scoring System Introduced
The revamped tournament also features a shorter scoring format.
Before the final, players only need to win four games to take a set.
There is also no advantage scoring.
Instead, matches use a 10-point match tie-break in place of a deciding third set.
The competition will run from August 24 to 26. It will finish four days before the US Open singles draw begins.
Serena and Alcaraz Set to Make Headlines
The Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz partnership is already one of the biggest stories surrounding the US Open mixed doubles.
Serena brings years of experience and 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, represents the new generation of tennis stars and has already won seven Grand Slam titles.
Their partnership combines experience, youth and an incredible winning record.
With Djokovic, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Pegula and several other stars also involved, the US Open mixed doubles event promises to be one of the most entertaining parts of the tournament.
For tennis fans, Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz sharing the court will be a moment worth watching.
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