Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were eliminated from the U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament on Tuesday during the quarter-finals [1].
The defeat ends a high-profile run for the duo, marking one of the most watched pairings in the tournament's history due to the combined star power of a tennis legend and a current top player.
Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli secured the victory to advance in the tournament [1]. The match follows a strong start for Williams and Alcaraz, who had previously advanced past the opening round. In that first match, they defeated the pairing of Routliffe and Glasspool with a score of 5-3, 4-1 [3].
Williams, 44, entered the 2026 tournament as a significant draw for the New York crowds [2]. Her presence in the mixed doubles draw highlighted a rare return to competitive Grand Slam play. According to reports, her last match win prior to this event occurred in 2022 [2].
The tournament has seen several unexpected exits in the mixed doubles category. Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were also eliminated early, falling in the first round [2].
While the pairing of Williams and Alcaraz did not reach the semi-finals, their opening victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium drew significant attention to the mixed doubles format [3]. The loss on Tuesday concludes their journey in the 2026 U.S. Open mixed doubles competition [1].
“Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were eliminated from the US Open mixed doubles tournament on Tuesday.”
The brief run of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz underscores the enduring commercial and spectator appeal of Williams, even years after her primary professional career. While the loss in the quarter-finals prevents a deep run, the pairing's ability to attract crowds to Arthur Ashe Stadium demonstrates that mixed doubles can serve as a major promotional tool for Grand Slam events when featuring cross-generational superstars.
