Carlos Alcaraz will return to competitive action at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center by pairing with Serena Williams in the US Open mixed doubles draw, tournament organizers announced. The duo received one of three wild-card entries for the event, which starts on Tuesday ahead of the main singles tournament beginning Sunday, August 30.
Alcaraz and Serena Headline Star-Studded Mixed Doubles Field
Alcaraz’s appearance marks his first competitive match since mid-April, when he suffered a right wrist injury. The Spanish star enters New York to defend the singles title he won last year. Serena Williams, 44, returns to the tournament for the first time since her 2022 retirement.
Tournament organizers secured the high-profile entries using a two-day competition format during the week preceding the singles main draw. The initiative is designed to draw top singles stars to a discipline they rarely contest. Alongside Alcaraz and Serena, tournament officials awarded wild cards to Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, as well as Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul.
Several other marquee pairings populate the draw, including WTA World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic. Additional teams confirmed by organizers feature Iga Swiatek paired with Casper Ruud, Mirra Andreeva alongside Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev with Taylor Townsend, Naomi Osaka teamed with Kei Nishikori, and Elena Rybakina partnering with Taylor Fritz. Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori return to defend the mixed doubles title they claimed last year during the inaugural running of the expanded format. Alcaraz and Serena are tentatively scheduled for their tournament debut on Tuesday, August 25.
Fils Reaches Cincinnati Masters Final
In singles action on the ATP Tour, Arthur Fils advanced to the final of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati after defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 6-4 in 67 minutes. The victory moves the 21st-ranked Frenchman one step away from capturing his first career Masters 1000 title.
Fils will face American Brandon Nakashima in the final. Nakashima advanced by overcoming compatriot Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 6-3 in an hour and 43 minutes, leaving both finalists chasing their maiden Masters 1000 crowns. Fils’ semifinal win provisionally elevates him to No. 11 in the world rankings, the highest position of his career, placing him ahead of Rafa Jódar. The Frenchman seeks his fifth career victory, following previous tournament victories at Lyon in 2023, Tokyo in 2024, Hamburg in 2024, and Barcelona in 2026.
On the WTA side of the Cincinnati tournament, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are set to meet in an all-American final just days before the opening matches in New York.
Next Steps and Tournament Schedule
The mixed doubles competition at Flushing Meadows gets underway on Tuesday, August 25, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. The singles main draw officially kicks off on Sunday, August 30. Fans can follow official tournament updates and match schedules directly through the US Open media channels.
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