New York, August 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz will begin their US Open mixed doubles campaign against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool on Tuesday, with the blockbuster pairing facing a formidable opening test at Flushing Meadows.
The 16-team field has brought together leading singles and doubles stars, while Williams and Alcaraz are among the headline pairings. Their opponents, Routliffe and Glasspool, earned their place in the main draw through qualifying on Monday.
Routliffe and Glasspool defeated Luisa Stefani and Neal Skupski 4-1, 3-5, 10-7 before edging Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arevalo 5-4 (4), 2-4, 11-9 to secure their spot.
Routliffe brings considerable pedigree to the contest. The New Zealander is a two-time US Open women’s doubles champion, having won the title with Gabriela Dabrowski in 2023 and 2025. Glasspool, meanwhile, is a former world No. 1 in men’s doubles.
For Williams, the match marks her first competitive appearance at the US Open since 2022. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion returned to competition earlier this year after a lengthy break and has opted not to enter the singles draw. She is also scheduled to play women’s doubles with sister Venus Williams.
Alcaraz, the reigning US Open singles champion, is returning from a right wrist injury. This will be his second Grand Slam mixed doubles appearance after he partnered Emma Raducanu at last year’s US Open.
The other headline pairing, top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, are also in action Tuesday. They will face Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe in the first round.
The revamped mixed doubles competition features first-round and quarterfinal matches on Tuesday, followed by the semifinals and final on Wednesday. The event uses shortened sets and a 10-point tiebreak in place of a deciding third set through the semifinals.
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