Carlos Alcaraz Makes a Dream Return to the Court with Serena Williams
It was a spectacular show at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the debut of the most anticipated mixed doubles pair at the 2026 U.S. Open. Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, the stars of a unique and fascinating Spanish-American pairing, advanced past the first round with a two-set victory over the duo of New Zealander Erin Routliffe and Briton Lloyd Glasspool, with a score of 5-3, 4-1. The pair, who entered the tournament on a wild card, needed a few games to find their rhythm, but once they got into the match, they gradually took control. The match lasted just 58 minutes, treating the New York crowd to one of the day’s most anticipated matches.
The start, however, was anything but easy for Williams and Alcaraz. The Murcia native committed a double fault on his first service game, immediately losing his serve and allowing Routliffe and Glasspool to take a 3-1 lead. The Spanish-American duo’s comeback came at the most critical moment. In the fifth game, Serena and Carlos saved two set points, managing to win the game on the deciding point. From that moment on, the match took a complete turn. Williams and Alcaraz broke back, tied the score at 3-3, and then completed the comeback, closing out the first set 5-3.
The momentum remained on their side in the second set as well. Serena and Carlos strung together more consecutive games, quickly taking a 3-0 lead and extending their winning streak to seven games. Routliffe and Glasspool tried to get back into the match in the fourth game, managing to save two consecutive match points and avoid an even more decisive loss. Their comeback, however, came too late. Alcaraz served for the match and held his serve to love, securing a spot in the quarterfinals for the duo consisting of the former WTA No. 1 and the former ATP No. 1.
The next match will be even more exciting. Williams and Alcaraz will face Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinals, a pair who surprised the crowd by eliminating Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev. For Serena Williams, back in the spotlight of the global tennis scene, and for Alcaraz, this match represents yet another chapter in an adventure that began almost as a joke but immediately became one of the most-watched events of the 2026 U.S. Open.
