Serena Williams made an emotional return to Flushing Meadows on Tuesday, partnering with Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed doubles event at the US Open. This marks the 44-year-old tennis icon's comeback to the Grand Slam where she stepped away from the sport four years ago.
Williams announced her intention to "evolve away" from tennis following the 2022 US Open. However, after returning to major stages at Wimbledon and the Cincinnati Open earlier this year, she appeared once again on the iconic Arthur Ashe court. The USTA had granted Williams and Alcaraz, 23, a wildcard into the 16-team mixed doubles field, competing for a $1 million prize.
The pair faced Lloyd Glasspool and Erin Routliffe in the first round. This is Williams's first time competing at the US Open since 2022. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion returned to professional tennis this summer.
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While Williams is not competing in singles in New York, American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, received the USTA's women's singles wildcard. Williams's earlier singles return at Wimbledon ended in a first-round loss and a knee injury. She subsequently teamed up with her older sister Venus for doubles at the Cincinnati Open, where they were defeated by Peyton Stearns and Marta Kostyuk.
Williams has a history of success in US Open mixed doubles, having won the title in 1998 with Max Mirnyi. The competition has since evolved into a high-profile, two-day event featuring other prominent players.
Alcaraz, the reigning US Open singles champion, announced his return to defend his title after recovering from a right wrist injury. His partnership with Williams provides a significant boost for fans, especially following the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner.
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Sinner, who turned professional in 2018, withdrew from the US Open due to a knee injury, marking the first Grand Slam tournament he will miss in his career. The Italian player has been dominant in 2026, winning multiple ATP Masters 1000 events.
Williams's recent performances have led to questions about her current form. There has also been speculation regarding her use of GLP-1 injections, managed by the telehealth company Ro, for which she became a paid spokesperson last year. Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, is a board member and early investor in the company. Williams has previously spoken about her challenges with weight loss following the birth of her children, crediting the drug for significant weight reduction. While GLP-1s are not currently banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), they are under investigation for potential performance-enhancing classifications in the future. Her publicist declined to comment when asked about her continued use of the drug.