Williams and Alcaraz team up at US Open

Williams and Alcaraz bow out of US Open mixed doubles in tight opener

NEW YORK — Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz fell to Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic 5-4 (7-4), 4-1 in their opening-round match at the 2024 US Open mixed doubles on Wednesday night.

The high-profile partnership, announced in August, drew a packed house at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Despite their combined 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the duo could not overcome the Italian-Swiss team. Cobolli, 23, and Bencic, 27, broke serve twice in the opener and never relinquished the advantage.

Williams, 42, playing her first professional match since retiring from singles competition in 2022, and Alcaraz, 21, the reigning Wimbledon and US Open men’s singles champion, opened strongly. The first set featured two tie-breaks, with the Spaniard’s explosive forehand and the American’s precise net play keeping points brisk. A late mini-break in the first-set tiebreak gave Cobolli and Bencic the edge.

The second set began with a break, as Bencic punished a short Alcaraz serve at 15. The Swiss star, who reached the 2019 US Open final in singles, held firm under pressure while Cobolli’s deep returns frustrated Williams at the net. The 6-4, 6-1 scoreline left the crowd cheering for more, but the Spanish-American tandem exited the tournament in their first outing.

Speaking afterward, Williams said the experience reminded her why she loves tennis. “It’s been a while since I’ve played in front of a crowd this big,” she told reporters. “Carlos is such a special talent, and playing with him was a lot of fun.”

Alcaraz echoed the sentiment, calling the match “a great opportunity to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time.”

The US Open continues through September 8 with the singles draw still in its early stages. All eyes remain on rising stars and returning legends as the tournament unfolds on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.

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