Carlos Alcaraz made his competitive return to the court alongside Serena Williams in the mixed doubles opening round at the US Open, stepping onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium court four months and medio after a right wrist injury forced him to withdraw from the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
Alcaraz and Williams Survive Opening Test in New York
The high-profile pairing of Alcaraz and Williams secured a 5-3, 4-1 victory against Erin Routliffe and Neal Glasspool in 59 minutes, according to tournament reports from the opening week’s exhibition and preliminary events in New York. Alcaraz appeared on court wearing a vibrant tank top accompanied by a wristband and right forearm protection, the visible reminders of the joint issue that sidelined him for more than four months.
Early nerves tested the partnership as Routliffe and Glasspool applied immediate pressure to build a 3-1 lead in the opening set. Williams stepped up her level to steady the pairing, igniting a seven-game winning streak that flipped the momentum. Alcaraz sealed the opening set with a powerful forehand, growing increasingly comfortable as the match progressed and finding his rhythm on the hard courts.
US Open Draws Wide Open Amid Hard-Court Uncertainty
Alcaraz’s return comes during an unpredictable lead-up to the US Open main draw, compounded by the absence of world number one Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz himself from the earlier North American hard-court swing. The lack of dominant tournament sweeps has left the men’s singles field more wide open than in previous seasons. Across the summer events, Taylor Fritz captured the title in Washington by defeating Martín Landaluce (Jódar), Arthur Gea topped Denis Shapovalov in Los Cabos, Ben Shelton defeated Brandon Nakashima in Montreal, and Arthur Fils edged Frances Tiafoe in Cincinnati.
Established contenders like Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev enter New York with questions surrounding their current form, while players like Nakashima, who reached the semifinals in both Cincinnati and Washington, look to capitalize on the open draw. Meanwhile, questions persist around other top contenders including Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur, and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Sinner Eyes Asian Swing Return Following Medical Evaluation
In Italy, Jannik Sinner was recently spotted leaving a medical facility in Turin as he continues recovery from recurring right knee issues. Sinner withdrew from the US Open due to the injury, which Italian media reports link to the patellar tendon in his right knee, though no official diagnosis has been confirmed by his team. The top-ranked player has begun light training on court and attends routine medical evaluations, with an anticipated return targeted for the Asian swing in Beijing or Shanghai, according to reports from Italy.
Tournament organizers have integrated high-profile mixed doubles matches and special events into the week preceding the US Open main draw, drawing capacity crowds to Arthur Ashe Stadium and the surrounding grounds daily.
Worth a look
