Williams, Alcaraz Win US Open Mixed Debut, Then Exit in 2nd Match

Q: Why did the highly anticipated US Open pairing of tennis superstars Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz end in a sudden, shortened-set upset?

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were knocked out because Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli played the sharper match in the US Open’s condensed mixed-doubles format, and the shortened scoring left almost no margin for a slow spell. The star pairing lost 5-4, 4-1 in the quarterfinals after letting a tight first set slip in a tiebreak at 4-all and then falling behind quickly in the second. Reports from the match described Bencic and Cobolli as more composed in the key points, finishing the first-set tiebreak strongly and then continuing with aggressive, fearless tennis. The format was a major factor in how sudden the defeat looked. In the revamped event, early rounds use sets to four games, no-ad scoring, and a tiebreak at 4-4 rather than traditional longer sets. That structure makes momentum swings decisive: one loose service game or missed return game can effectively decide a set, and there is little time to recover. There were also performance factors. Alcaraz was playing his first competitive tennis in four months after a wrist injury and admitted he was nervous and rusty. Williams, back at the US Open after a four-year absence, still produced flashes of vintage form but was reported to have made more unforced errors than in the opening-round win. So the upset was not just about star power failing. It was a combination of Bencic and Cobolli executing better under pressure and a fast-track format that magnified every mistake.

3 articles · Updated · The Cut · Aug 26

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz opened their US Open mixed doubles run by rallying past Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool after a slow start.
Their partnership lasted 2 matches, ending with a loss to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, though the pair drew attention for their upbeat on-court chemistry.
Williams is playing professionally again after a 4-year hiatus and already returned at Wimbledon in June, where she entered singles and doubles with Venus Williams.
Alcaraz is also back from a 4-month injury layoff, making the short-lived pairing a showcase for two high-profile comeback stories.