Serena Williams teams up with Alcaraz in U.S. Open mixed doubles

Serena Williams will make her competitive return to the US ​Open alongside defending men’s singles ‌champion Carlos Alcaraz after the pair received a wildcard for the mixed doubles event, ​tournament organisers said on Saturday.

It ​will be Williams’ first competitive appearance ⁠at Flushing Meadows since 2022.

The ​American, a 23-times Grand Slam singles ​champion and six-times US Open winner, also captured the mixed doubles title in New York ​in 1998 with Max Mirnyi.

World ​number one Aryna Sabalenka will partner Serbia’s Novak ‌Djokovic, ⁠while Jessica Pegula will team up with fellow American Taylor Fritz in the mixed doubles competition.

Williams returned to ​doubles action ​this month ⁠alongside her sister Venus at the Cincinnati Open, but ​the pair lost in the ​opening ⁠round in their first tournament together since 2022.

The 44-year-old Serena announced her ⁠return ​to competitive tennis in ​June after a four-year absence.