Williams, Alcaraz Win 5-3, 4-1 Before U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Exit

Q: With one wild-card slot remaining, is Serena Williams secretly plotting a shocking singles comeback at the U.S. Open?

Probably not. There was real reason for speculation: one women’s singles wild-card slot remained open, Serena Williams had re-entered the anti-doping testing pool months ago, and she had publicly said she could not completely rule out singles if she trained more. Her return to the U.S. Open during Fan Week with Carlos Alcaraz only intensified that talk, especially after she said she never expected to be back on Arthur Ashe Stadium. But the stronger evidence points away from a surprise singles entry. Williams was not included in the initial batch of U.S. Open women’s singles wild cards, even though Venus Williams was. More importantly, recent reporting says the final women’s singles wild card went to Sofia Kenin, meaning Serena will miss the singles draw unless there is an unexpected late change through withdrawals or another special accommodation. Williams herself has also been cautious. Around her comeback events in London and elsewhere, she repeatedly framed this return as low-pressure and family-focused, saying she did not need to win and that singles was “not my journey right now” unless she trained more. After her mixed doubles appearance in New York, reports again said she does not plan to play singles. So while the open slot briefly made a comeback theory plausible, the latest facts do not support the idea that she is secretly plotting a shock singles run at this U.S. Open. A doubles appearance, potentially with Venus, remains the more realistic possibility.

Q: Will Carlos Alcaraz's nervous return and lingering wrist injury derail his championship defense after this mixed doubles exit?

Probably not, but it is a real risk. Alcaraz’s mixed doubles exit with Serena Williams is a weak predictor of his singles chances. The event uses a shortened format, different tactics, and depends heavily on chemistry, so losing to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli does not say much by itself about a five-set singles title defense. What matters more is his physical condition and match sharpness. Alcaraz had been out nearly five months with a right wrist injury that forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon, and he also pulled out of Cincinnati. He admitted he felt nervous and had “almost forgot” what competition feels like. That kind of rust was visible early, including a double fault and some uneven play, but he also settled in and helped win the first match convincingly. There are reasons to believe he can still contend. He remains world No. 2, is the defending U.S. Open champion, started 2026 at 22-3 with titles at the Australian Open and Doha, and enters a field clouded by injuries, including uncertainty around Jannik Sinner. Some analysts have argued that a player of Alcaraz’s level can win a major even with limited preparation if he is physically sound. The bigger issue is whether the wrist holds up through repeated singles matches. If it does, his ceiling is high enough to make him a favorite or near-favorite. If discomfort returns, the lack of recent match play could quickly become decisive. So the mixed doubles loss is not the warning sign; the wrist is.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 25

Arthur Ashe Stadium erupted for Serena Williams, 44, and Carlos Alcaraz, 23, who won their opener 5-3, 4-1 before falling later in the quarterfinals to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.
The pairing was the clearest showcase yet of the U.S. Open's revamped mixed doubles event, which shifted in 2025 toward singles star power and bigger prize money.
Alcaraz flashed touch and movement but still looked rusty in his return from a right wrist injury, while Williams played her first U.S. Open appearance on Ashe since her 2022 farewell.
All four semifinal spots ultimately went to singles-led teams, underlining how far the redesigned format has pushed doubles specialists to the margins.