Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz have been invited to the mixed doubles tournament at the US Open.

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz have been granted entry into the mixed doubles tournament at the US Open, according to organizers of the final tennis Grand Slam of the season. The announcement was made on Saturday, revealing that the American legend will compete alongside Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz in New York. This marks the first competitive appearance of the 44-year-old Williams at Flushing Meadows since 2022, when she withdrew after a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanović. Following nearly four years away from professional play, Williams has returned to the WTA Tour this summer, though her comeback has included early exits, such as a first-round defeat at Wimbledon against Mayar Keyarava. She had planned to team with her older sister Venus in the women’s doubles, but both withdrew due to injury. However, they did compete at the Cincinnati tournament, where they were defeated in the opening round. Williams holds 23 Grand Slam singles titles, including six victories at the US Open, where she won the mixed doubles title in 1998 with Belarusian Max Mirnyi. For Alcaraz, the pairing represents a return to competition after his last match came mid-April in Barcelona. Since then, he has taken a four-month break due to an injury affecting his wrist joint. The US Open mixed doubles tournament has undergone changes since last year, adopting a two-day format with 16 pairs and a substantial prize fund. Traditionally reserved for top-tier players and prominent American athletes, the event saw past champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori win last year's edition, which took place during the individual qualifying rounds for the main draw. This year, the field includes several established names, among them the defending champions Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, who are representing Ukraine and France respectively. Other notable entries include Czech pair Karolina Muchová and Jáchym Menšík, American duo Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul, and the French combination of Filipina Alexandra Eala and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. Additional entrants include Canadian Leylah Fernandez and American Frances Tiafoe, American Taylor Townsend and German Alexander Zverev, as well as the Russian-French couple of Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Six pairs have secured direct qualification: Belarusian Arina Sabaljenka and Serbian Novak Djokovic, Americans Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, last year’s finalists Iga Świątek and Casper Ruud, Swiss Belinda Bencic and Italian Flavio Cobolli, Americans Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien, and Diana Shnaider, who must find a new partner following the withdrawal of Daniil Medvedev. Two spots remain to be filled by qualifiers, one of which will be occupied by Croatian player Mati Pavić, who will be partnered with Serbian Aleksandra Krunić. Eight pairs will participate in the qualifying rounds. The main draw of the US Open is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25th and 26th. The mixed doubles tournament promises to be a highlight of the event, featuring some of the sport’s most recognizable faces and offering fans a chance to witness high-level competition in a unique format.