Williams-Alcaraz duo to begin U.S. Open mixed doubles against women’s champ
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are set to compete in the U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament, facing Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool in the first round. The tournament features a new qualifying format and high-profile pairings, including Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka.
Why it matters
The inclusion of tennis legends in mixed doubles draws significant public and media interest to the U.S. Open.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz will open the U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament against a team that features the reigning women's doubles champion.
Williams and Alcaraz will face Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool on Tuesday (August 25, 2026) in the first round of the championship, which will be Williams' first match at the U.S. Open since 2022.
Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic might have an even tougher draw. The top seeds, based on having the lowest combined singles ranking in the 16-team field, face the team of Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten — who are the No. 1-ranked doubles players on their respective tours.
The first round and quarterfinals are on Tuesday (August 25). The semifinals and final are Wednesday (August 26).
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