Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz concluded their mixed doubles campaign at the US Open 2026 following a straight-sets defeat to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, according to tournament reports.
The Quarterfinal Exit at Flushing Meadows
The pairing, dubbed the “galactic couple” by international fans, exited the tournament after a 5-4(4), 4-1 loss to the fourth-seeded Swiss-Italian duo. The demanding schedule required the Spanish-American tandem to play two consecutive matches on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, creating a heavy physical burden that ultimately influenced the outcome on the tournament’s main court.
Accumulated fatigue played a decisive role in the second match of the day. While Bencic and Cobolli utilized their established doubles coordination to dictate the rallies, the quick turnaround between sessions tested the limits of both Williams and Alcaraz under the New York lights.
A Triumphant Opening and the Physical Toll
Earlier on Tuesday, Williams and Alcaraz earned a 5-3, 4-1 victory over Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe in their round-of-16 debut. That opening clash lasted 59 minutes and featured a comeback from two set points down, sending a wave of excitement through the Flushing Meadows crowd as Williams returned to the venue where she claimed six singles trophies.
However, jumping back onto the court hours later against Bencic and Cobolli caught up with the partnership. The physical toll of the ATP and WTA schedule left the duo with limited recovery time.
Broader Context for Williams and Alcaraz
Despite the quarterfinal exit, the tournament marked significant milestones for both athletes. For Alcaraz, the matches in New York served as a competitive return following a right wrist injury that sidelined him for four months. For Williams, competing at age 44 reinforced her return to professional tennis in 2026 following her career of 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
Records show the American legend completed required anti-doping controls and competed at Queen’s Club and Wimbledon ahead of her appearance in New York, continuing to draw global attention whenever she steps onto a tennis court.
Next Checkpoint
Both players turn their focus back to their respective singles circuits as the remainder of the North American hard-court season unfolds. Official updates regarding upcoming tournament entries and seedings will be posted through the official ATP and WTA tours.
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