NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams made a triumphant return to the U.S. Open on Tuesday, winning in mixed doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz, who shook off the rust from missing four months with a wrist injury to keep pace with his playing partner.
Williams and Alcaraz rebounded from a slow start to defeat Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1 in the first round, much to the delight of fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium who were clearly on their side. It was Williams' first U.S. Open match since 2022 and Alcaraz's first of any kind since April 14.
“It’s always such an amazing place to be here,” Williams said after the 58-minute win. “I never expected to be back on this court, so it was just a really cool moment. I never thought this would happen.”
The crowd roared their introductions as they walked on to the court: “the queen of tennis and the king of now,” in the words of Italy's Flavio Cobolli minutes earlier following his mixed doubles victory with Belinda Bencic. Public address announcer Andy Taylor called Williams and Alcaraz the most anticipated pairing of the tournament.
Early on, it looked like their duet would be a short one as they lost the first two games. With a white sleeve on his injured right arm, Alcaraz's timing, movements and serve looked off.
“I think everybody could see: I double-faulted on the first point,” Alcaraz said. “I was really, really nervous. I was out for four months ... I almost forget how it feels.”
While he got his feet under him, fans chanted, “Let's go, Serena, let's go!” The decorated star of the show delivered.
Williams, back playing tennis at age 44, carried Alcaraz, the 23-year-old ranked third in the world in men's singles and the defending champion, for much of the first set. She won 15 points to his nine to rally back and take the set, with Alcaraz chalking up the turnaround to having fun.
“She made it really easy for me -- just to try to enjoy it, to go for it every time,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz found his groove, including the shot that became set point. He and Williams cruised in the second, setting up a quarterfinal matchup against Bencic and Cobolli.
The winners advance to the semifinals of Wednesday night, with the champions getting $1 million in the second year of the new mixed doubles format that is meant to attract top players.
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