Serena Williams will return to competitive tennis at the 2026 US Open by partnering with Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed doubles event after receiving a wildcard entry from the US Tennis Association [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Williams, 44, last played at the US Open in 2022 and has largely stayed out of singles competition since then [1, 2, 3, 5]. She will not compete in singles at this year’s tournament; the last wild card for women’s singles went to Sofia Kenin [2, 5].
The 2026 US Open mixed doubles main draw includes 16 teams such as Williams/Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka/Novak Djokovic, Jessica Pegula/Taylor Fritz, and the defending champions Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori [2, 3, 4, 6, 5]. Matches will primarily be played in Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums [3, 6]. The winners of the mixed doubles event will share a $1 million prize [2, 4].
Williams previously won the US Open mixed doubles title in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi [1, 2, 6, 5]. Carlos Alcaraz, a two-time US Open men’s singles champion and currently the No. 2 world-ranked player, will also defend his singles title after returning from a wrist injury that sidetracked him since April [2, 3, 5]. Alcaraz expressed excitement, saying, "Let’s gooooo!" [2].
The mixed doubles competition began today with an eight-team qualifying tournament at 11 a.m. on Grandstand Court [6]. The main draw’s first round and quarterfinals will be held at Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums on August 25, with semifinals and the final slated for August 26 starting at 7 p.m. in Arthur Ashe Stadium [3, 6].
Venus Williams received a wild card for the women’s singles draw, but it is unclear if she will join Serena in doubles play [1, 3, 5]. Meanwhile, Diana Shnaider is searching for a partner after Daniil Medvedev withdrew from the mixed doubles event [2, 4, 5].
