Serena Williams’ return to Arthur Ashe Stadium came to an end this week when she and partner Carlos Alcaraz fell to Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic in the US Open mixed doubles quarterfinals, 5-4(4), 4-1, under the tournament’s fast-set doubles scoring format.
Williams, 44, was competing for the first time in more than four years after retiring from full-time competition in 2022, and she received a standing ovation from the crowd. She and Alcaraz, who himself was returning from an injury layoff since April, won their opening match comfortably, with Williams blasting a 120-mph ace along the way, before running into a stronger pairing in the quarterfinals.
Cobolli and Bencic advance to face Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils in the semifinals. The Williams-Alcaraz pairing, granted a wild card into the event, had drawn some of the tournament’s largest crowds despite Williams’ extended absence from top-level tennis and Alcaraz’s own rust after months out of action.
