23-time Grand Slam champion returns to New York for mixed doubles, but will not play singles

Serena Williams will make her return to the US Open by teaming up with seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed doubles competition, organisers announced Saturday.

Williams, 44, has not competed at the US Open since 2022 and will not enter the singles draw this year. The American is a six-time US Open singles champion and previously won the tournament’s mixed doubles title in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi.

Williams and world No. 2 Alcaraz were among the final wildcard entries awarded for the mixed doubles main draw. Czech players Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, along with Americans Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul, received the other wildcard places.

The mixed doubles competition will begin Tuesday and conclude Wednesday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, ahead of the start of the main US Open tournament on August 30.

Williams recently returned to doubles competition with her sister Venus at Cincinnati, marking their first appearance together since 2022. The pair were eliminated in the opening round.

The US Tennis Association also awarded the final women's singles wildcard to American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion. Venus Williams, 46, had previously received a wildcard for the US Open singles draw.

Meanwhile, withdrawals reshaped the mixed doubles field. Britain's Jack Draper and Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina pulled out, prompting their former partners, Americans Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, to reunite as a team and receive direct entry into the main draw.

Russian player Diana Shnaider, whose partner Daniil Medvedev also withdrew, will have an opportunity to find a new partner before Sunday's draw. Qualifying for the US Open begins Monday.