US Open mixed doubles kicked off with a bang yesterday, as legend Serena Williams and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka headlined the revamped two-day event.
In her first competitive return to Arthur Ashe since 2022, Williams and partner Carlos Alcaraz notched a first-round win over Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool. However, they later fell in the quarterfinals to Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.
“It’s always amazing to be here. I never expected to be back on this court,” Williams said afterwards. “It was just a really cool moment. I never thought this would happen.”
Sabalenka’s run also ended early. She and Novak Djokovic dropped a three-setter to Kateřina Siniaková and Henry Patten despite entering as the No. 1 seed.
Elina Svitolina and husband Gaël Monfils were the showcase’s big surprise, riding a wildcard into today’s semifinals alongside Top 10 singles players Mirra Andreeva and Karolína Muchová.
US Open mixed doubles wraps up tonight starting at 7 PM ET (ESPN).
