Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz treated fans to an exciting mixed doubles partnership at the 2026 US Open. Although the duo fell short in the quarterfinals of the star-studded event, they remained in high spirits while reflecting on their time together on the court.
What Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz Said About Their US Open Partnership
Williams and Alcaraz made a stellar mixed doubles debut at Flushing Meadows, claiming a 5-3, 4-1 win over Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool in the first round.
During their on-court interview, Alcaraz opened up about the nerves he felt heading into his first match back since suffering a wrist injury in April. The 23-year-old credited Williams for making his return to competition feel very comfortable.
“I think everyone could see, I double faulted the first point. So, I was really, really nervous. Playing alongside Serena, it’s still competition, full crowd. I was out for almost five months. I almost forget how I feel stepping on the court once again. It was just a couple games. She made it really easy for me. Just trying to enjoy and go for it every time,” Alcaraz said.
Meanwhile, the 23-time Grand Slam champion looked ahead to their quarterfinal showdown against Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, emphasizing that their approach was simply to enjoy the experience.
“The same thing. Just have fun. This is such a bonus for us to be out here. To play with Carlos is honestly so cool. We’re just out here having fun,” she said.
Although the pair put up a spirited challenge in the first set, Bencic and Cobolli ultimately claimed a 5-4(4), 4-1 victory to advance to the semifinals and keep their hopes of winning the $1 million prize alive.
Williams captured their emotions as they cooled down after the loss, with Alcaraz opening up about how amazing it was to share the court with the American tennis legend, regardless of the result.
“I feel great. Even if I lost, playing with her, I’m feeling amazing,” Alcaraz said.
“We won! We won one, we lost one,” Williams responded. “We tied.”
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz after their day of U.S. Open mixed doubles:
Carlos: “I feel great. Even if I lost, playing with her, I’m feeling amazing.”
Serena: “We won! We won 1 we lost 1.”
Carlos: “Yeah, we tied.”
Serena: “We tied!” 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/wedxGzGLoV
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 25, 2026
While Serena Williams will not feature in the women’s singles draw at the US Open, Carlos Alcaraz will now turn his focus to his highly anticipated title defense on the men’s side. The Spaniard will learn his path to the coveted title when the draw is unveiled on Thursday, August 27.
