Williams and Alcaraz Win First Match, Exit US Open Mixed Doubles

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz made a highly anticipated return to tennis at the US Open mixed doubles tournament, winning their first match together before being eliminated in the quarterfinals. The star pairing defeated New Zealand's Erin Routliffe and Britain's Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1 on Tuesday, August 25, but fell to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 5-4, 4-1 the following day.

Williams, 44, was competing in her first match at the US Open since her emotional retirement in 2022. Alcaraz, the defending men's singles champion, was playing for the first time since April after being sidelined with a right wrist injury. He wore a protective sleeve on his arm throughout the matches. In their opening victory, Williams carried the team through a slow start from Alcaraz, who acknowledged his rust in a mid-match interview. "I'm playing with the one and only Serena Williams," he said. "Just enjoying. Trying to do the things she taught me to do." After the match, Alcaraz admitted to significant nerves. "I think everybody could see I double-faulted on the first point," he said. "I was really, really nervous. I was out for almost five months and I almost forgot how it feels stepping...