Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz fall in US Open mixed doubles quarterfinal | Tennis News
Serena Williams’ Return to Arthur Ashe Ends in Quarterfinal Defeat
By Reuters and The Associated Press
Published: August 26, 2026
Serena Williams’ highly anticipated return to the US Open concluded abruptly Tuesday as she and partner Carlos Alcaraz were defeated by Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic in the mixed doubles quarterfinals. The match ended with a score of 5-4(4), 4-1, marking a disappointing finish to their impressive early performance.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, had not competed at the US Open since her emotional farewell to tennis in 2022. Fans greeted her return with roaring cheers as she stepped onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 44-year-old Williams demonstrated a natural connection with the young Spaniard Alcaraz, 21 years her junior. Together, they dispatched Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool in the opening round earlier on Tuesday, winning 5-3, 4-1.
However, their momentum faltered against the formidable duo of Cobolli and Bencic, who showcased a powerful performance. Cobolli expressed his appreciation for the match, saying, “Playing Serena and Carlos on Arthur Ashe is not easy. I was tired before the match, I’m tired now.”
Despite not competing in singles, Williams displayed flashes of her former brilliance, including a 120 mph ace that elicited gasps from the crowd in their earlier match against Routliffe and Glasspool. Alcaraz, returning from injury, shook off early rust and contributed to their first-round victory, culminating in a celebratory embrace in matching outfits.
“It’s always such an amazing place to be here,” said Williams. “I never expected to be back on this court.”
Cobolli and Bencic capitalized on early mistakes from Williams and Alcaraz, with Cobolli sealing the first set with an ace. The Swiss-Italian duo continued to dominate, committing no unforced errors in the second set. Bencic echoed sentiments of honor in competing against their celebrated opponents, stating, “I don’t know how I landed on this court—playing Carlos and Serena is a great honor.”
In other mixed doubles action, top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka suffered an upset in their opening match, losing to experienced doubles players Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova with a score of 1-4, 4-2, 10-2. Siniakova sealed the victory with an ace.
Patten and Siniakova advanced to the quarterfinals but were ultimately defeated by Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, with a close match ending 5-4(6), 4-5(3), 10-8.
Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik are set to face the Russian pair of Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev in the other semifinal. Rublev and Andreeva advanced after defeating last year’s champions, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, and Casper Ruud and Diana Shnaider.
In another notable event, five-time US Open champion Roger Federer made a nostalgic appearance in Arthur Ashe Stadium, playing an exhibition match against longtime rival Andy Roddick. The event, labeled “An Icon Returns to New York,” drew a crowd eager to witness the Swiss legend, who reminisced about his early days in the sport and the memories associated with the venue.
Federer, who last played in the US Open in 2019 and retired in 2022, also participated in a doubles exhibition alongside John McEnroe against Roddick and Andre Agassi.
With both Williams and Federer gracing the court once more, the US Open continues to celebrate its rich tennis heritage as the tournament unfolds.
