NEW YORK (AP) – Serena Williams made a notable return to the court at the 2023 U.S. Open after a four-year absence, while 23-year-old Carlos Alcaraz came back to competitive tennis after a four-month injury layoff. Their pairing in mixed doubles sparked nostalgia and excitement among fans, but the celebratory moment was short-lived as they faced defeat in the quarterfinals.
Williams and Alcaraz, who boast a combined total of eight U.S. Open singles championships, were eliminated by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli with a score of 5-4 (4), 4-1 on Tuesday. Prior to the match, Cobolli referred to his opponents as "the queen of tennis and the king of now," acknowledging their impressive track records. In the first round, Williams and Alcaraz overcame a shaky start to victory over Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool with a scoreline of 5-3, 4-1, thrilling the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
After her match, Williams expressed her surprise at returning to Flushing Meadows, stating, "I never expected to be back on this court. I never thought this would happen." Fans are now speculating whether she will partner with her sister Venus in women's doubles, a category where they have previously won the U.S. Open twice among a total of 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. Notably, Williams, now 44, has indicated that she does not intend to compete in singles.
In her most recent mixed doubles appearance, Williams showcased her signature skills, delivering powerful shots reminiscent of her prime. Initially, she carried Alcaraz, who is ranked third in the world in men’s singles, as he struggled with rustiness in his first competitive match since April 14 due to a right wrist injury that had sidelined him from major tournaments like the French Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz admitted to feeling nervous, saying, "I think everybody could see: I double-faulted on the first point... I was really, really nervous. I was out for four months… I almost forgot how it feels."
The atmosphere in Arthur Ashe Stadium was electric, with fans fervently chanting, "Come on, Carlos!" and "Let’s go, Serena, let’s go!" However, despite the support, Williams and Alcaraz were overpowered by their opponents Bencic and Cobolli, losing a crucial first-set tiebreaker and being dominated in the second set. Cobolli acknowledged experiencing jitters, noting the star power they faced, while Bencic reflected on the surreal nature of the matchup, stating, "It was surreal to play against Carlos... Just a huge honor. Obviously, you can feel both of their auras."
It’s worth mentioning that the mixed doubles format for the first three rounds involves sets played to four games, including a tiebreaker at 4-all, while the final match is played in a conventional format to six games. The champions of this year's tournament will receive $1 million, an incentive aimed at attracting top-level players, in the second year of this new mixed doubles format. Joining Bencic and Cobolli in the semifinals are Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils; Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev; and Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik.
In conclusion, while the nostalgic debut of Williams and Alcaraz was met with excitement, their journey in the 2023 U.S. Open ended prematurely, leaving fans hopeful for future performances in different categories of the tournament.
