Carlos Alcaraz has not played a tennis match since mid-April. Serena Williams has not played at the U.S. Open since 2022. Somewhat surprisingly, however, both future Hall of Famers are participating in New York this year.
And they will be on the court in the same place at the same time.
Alcaraz and Williams accepted a main-draw wild card into the U.S. Open mixed doubles event earlier this week. They will be part of a star-studded field that also features Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jessica Pegula, Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, and Tommy Paul and Emma Navarro.
Here is the complete mixed doubles field (pending the results of qualifying):
MAIN DRAW
Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic
Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz
Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud
Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli
Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien
Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev
(WC) Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori
(WC) Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime
(WC) Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe
(WC) Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev
(WC) Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils
(WC) Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz
(WC) Jakub Mensik and Karolina Muchova
(WC) Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul
QUALIFIER
QUALIFIER
QUALIFYING
Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten
Gabriela Dabrowski and Harri Heliövaara
Luisa Stefani and Neal Skupski
Aleksandra Krunic and Mate Pavic
Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arevalo
Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool
Like the debut of this new format in 2025, mixed doubles at the U.S. Open will be held the week before the actual two-week main draw — which is set for August 30-September 13. Mixed will be played on Monday, August 24 (qualifying) through Wednesday, August 26 (semis and final) during U.S. Open fan week.
Matches in the first round through the semifinals will be best-of-three short sets (to four games with tiebreakers at 4-4) with no-ad scoring and a 10-point super-tiebreaker for the third. The final will be the same format except full sets to six games with tiebreakers at 6-6. Qualifying is on the Grandstand, while main-draw matches will be played in Arthur Ashe or Louis Armstrong.
fun event
This feels more like an exhibition. But a chance for Alcaraz to get some practice.
for most teams it is. some take it seriously.