Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz Partner Up for US Open Mixed Double

Serena Williams will team up with Carlos Alcaraz for the US Open mixed doubles this coming week in New York City. The pair, who have a combined 44 singles and doubles Grand Slams, have been given a wildcard into the main draw of the competition.

US Open Mixed Doubles: A New Format

The US Open mixed doubles was revamped last year to include singles stars in a bid to attract more attention to the format. The top six pairs with the best combined singles rankings have received direct entry into the main draw, with another eight receiving wildcards. Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are the only doubles specialist pairing to receive a main-draw wildcard.

Serena Williams made her return to tennis in June, four years after "evolving away" from the sport. She has played three doubles matches since her return and made her singles comeback at Wimbledon, losing in three sets to Maya Joint. However, Serena will not feature in the singles in New York City as the final wildcard place was awarded to American Sofia Kenin.

A New Partnership

Serena will team up with seven-time major winner Alcaraz, who is set to play for the first time in over four months following a wrist injury. The pair will compete in the mixed doubles competition, which takes place from 24-26 August, finishing four days before the singles draw begins. Other high-profile pairings include world number one Aryna Sabalenka with 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic, American pair Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, and six-time major champion Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.

The mixed doubles format has been criticized by some doubles specialists, who argue it blurs the lines between exhibition events and serious competition. However, the format has also unlocked the more relaxed side of Serena Williams, as seen in her 2019 partnership with Andy Murray at Wimbledon. This format has often allowed her to have fun on the court, which is her main motivation for competing.

A Gentle Return to the Court

For both players, the mixed doubles will act as a gentle return to the court following injuries. The more competitive environment will offer a better indication of their fitness, allowing them to sharpen up their footwork and find more rhythm with minutes on a match court. Williams and Alcaraz will face off against other high-profile pairings, including Ukraine's Elina Svitolina and her husband Gael Monfils.

The competition takes place from 24-26 August, finishing four days before the singles draw begins. The US Open mixed doubles has been revamped to include more pairings involving singles players, which has been criticized by some doubles specialists. However, the format has also attracted more attention to the competition, with the defending champions Errani and Vavassori receiving a main-draw wildcard.

The tournament was also tweaked to place over two days in the week before the main draw began. The shorter scoring system was introduced, with only four games required to win a set in matches before the final, no 'advantage' scoring and 10-point match tie-breaks instead of a third set throughout.

Source: JOY