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Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz Awarded US Open Mixed Doubles Wild Card

Their confirmed entry signals a high-profile draw that gives Alcaraz a competitive tune-up before he defends his singles title.

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Aug 17, 2026; Mason, OH, USA; Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine and Peyton Stearns of the United States in their doubles match during the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Overview

  • The U.S. Tennis Association announced on Saturday that Williams and Alcaraz received one of the final wild cards into the 16-team mixed doubles main draw, with qualifying set for Aug. 24 and main-draw play on Aug. 25–26.
  • Alcaraz, returning from a right wrist injury sustained in April, will use the mixed doubles as an early competitive test ahead of his US Open singles title defense that begins Aug. 30.
  • Williams will make her first US Open appearance since 2022, but she has a recent knee tweak and has not yet decided whether to enter the women's singles draw; the USTA is reportedly holding a women's singles wild card for her.
  • The USTA has retooled mixed doubles into a two-day Fan Week showcase with a 16-team field, abbreviated scoring (sets to four games, no-ad scoring, 10-point match tiebreak) and a $1 million winners' prize to attract top singles stars.
  • The pairing has driven intense social-media and ticket interest and joins a star-studded field that includes other high-profile teams, underlining the USTA's push to spotlight marquee singles players in the revamped event.