Carlos Alcaraz Stuns Everyone Once Again: Another Surprise Ahead of the U.S. Open
Carlos Alcaraz amazes us once again. After months of silence and a hiatus due to a right wrist injury, in less than 48 hours came the announcement of his return to the court to defend his title at the U.S. Open, followed on Saturday by the news that he would be competing in the mixed doubles tournament alongside one of the all-time greats in the history of world tennis, Serena Williams. This is a decidedly unusual pairing, made official by the US Tennis Association with a wild card that has already sparked debate among fans.
Serena Williams, winner of 23 career Grand Slam titles, returns to Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2022, following her summer comeback at Wimbledon, which had already piqued fans’ curiosity, even without any major highlights on the court. Alcaraz, on the other hand, is ready to defend the title he won last year, but before getting back into the fray in the men’s singles tournament, he has chosen to compete in the mixed doubles—which precedes the singles tournament—selecting a legend as his partner.
The idea of seeing them together on the court has sparked mixed reactions: many have expressed great enthusiasm, but there has been no shortage of criticism, especially on social media. In fact, those who fear that the decision to also compete in mixed doubles—despite the highly “television-friendly” nature of the event at Flushing Meadows (scheduled for August 25 and 26 as best-of-three sets, with victory going to the fourth game)—is still risky just a few days before the start of the singles draw.
In any case, media attention is guaranteed: the Williams–Alcaraz duo’s mixed doubles debut, scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, will be one of the most-watched events of the entire tournament. Alcaraz has reaffirmed his desire to surprise and break the mold, choosing—after months of rehabilitation—to return not only to win but also to have fun. Only the court will tell whether this was the right choice or a mistake.
