Serena Williams is heading back to Flushing Meadows. The six-time singles champion received wildcard entry into the 2026 US Open mixed doubles draw alongside Carlos Alcaraz, the defending men's singles titleholder. For Williams, it marks her first appearance at the tournament since her 2022 farewell.
Serena Williams Partners with Carlos Alcaraz for 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles
The pair's opening opponent won't be determined until Monday, though.
Eight qualifying teams are competing for a spot in the 16-team bracket, a new wrinkle this year after the USTA restructured mixed doubles entry around singles rankings. Because of the change, Williams and Alcaraz will likely face a doubles-specialist pairing in the first round.
A Change to the US Open Schedule
The 2026 US Open schedule also gives mixed doubles a wider window than in past years. First-round and quarterfinal matches take place Tuesday, with the semifinals and final following on Wednesday. The format is also different. Sets go to four games with no-ad scoring, and a 10-point tiebreaker replaces a full third set.
Beyond the headline pairing, seven of the Top 10 WTA players and six of the Top 10 ATP players are entered.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic hold the No. 1 seed, while Cincinnati Open runner-up Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz eneter at No. 2. The winning team takes home $1 million in prize money.
