American tennis icon Serena Williams will return to the US Open in a blockbuster mixed doubles partnership with Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, organizers announced on Saturday.
The US Tennis Association confirmed that Williams, 44, and Alcaraz, 23, have been granted a wild card for the final Grand Slam tournament of the season in New York. The mixed doubles main draw begins on Tuesday, offering a $1 million prize to the winning pair.
The appearance will mark Williams's first time competing at Flushing Meadows since 2022. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, launched a comeback to professional tennis earlier this summer.
However, Williams will not be competing in the women's singles draw in New York. The USTA had been holding back one women's wild card, presumably in case Williams decided to enter the singles competition. Organizers announced on Saturday that the final entry spot has instead been awarded to 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
Past mixed doubles success and star-studded field
Prior to arriving in New York, Williams played singles at Wimbledon in London, where she suffered a first-round defeat and sustained a knee injury. She later paired up with her older sister Venus Williams at the Cincinnati Open in Ohio for their first doubles match together since the 2022 US Open, losing 6-2, 1-6, 10-8 to Peyton Stearns and Marta Kostyuk.
Williams is no stranger to success in doubles events in New York, having previously won a US Open mixed doubles title in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi, who currently coaches World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka. Nearly three decades after that victory, the US Open mixed doubles event has transformed into a high-profile, star-studded two-day showcase, featuring prominent names such as Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic this year.
Alcaraz returns as Sinner pulls out
Alcaraz announced earlier this week that he will return to defend his US Open singles title after being sidelined since April due to a right wrist injury. The 23-year-old Spaniard has established himself as one of the game's brightest young stars after winning major titles on multiple surfaces.
The news of Alcaraz's return and his marquee pairing with Williams provides a major boost for tennis fans following the high-profile withdrawal of his chief rival, Jannik Sinner. The Italian World No. 1 announced on Friday that he will miss the US Open due to an ongoing knee problem.
In an official statement published on social media, the 25-year-old Italian explained his decision to skip the tournament. "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," Sinner wrote.
Sinner added: "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. I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there."
Sinner turned professional in 2018 and had never missed a Grand Slam tournament in his entire career prior to this withdrawal. The Italian has claimed five Grand Slam titles in total, including the US Open two years ago and Wimbledon this summer. He has enjoyed a dominant 2026 campaign, winning the first five ATP Masters 1000 events of the year, including back-to-back hard-court titles in the United States at Indian Wells and Miami.
