Serena Williams to skip U.S. Open singles in favor of mixed doubles

Field Level Media|published: Sat 22nd August, 21:11 2026 Aug 17, 2026; Mason, OH, USA; Serena Williams and Venus Williams, not pictured, of the United States walk off the court after their doubles match against Peyton Stearns of the United States and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine during the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Questions about Serena Williams’ status in singles competition at the U.S. Open can cease, as the U.S. Tennis Association on Saturday announced Williams would compete alongside Carlos Alcaraz next week in a star-studded mixed doubles team.

Making her return to the event where she has won six individual titles and two doubles championships, this will mark Williams’ first appearance at Flushing Meadows since 2022.

Speculation had built that she could take the final wild-card slot for singles set aside by the USTA earlier this week, but that bid will instead go to fellow American Sofia Kenin.

Alcaraz this week announced that he was making his return to the U.S. Open to defend his 2025 singles title following a lengthy absence due to a right wrist injury.

Williams began her comeback with doubles matches in June at the HSBC Championships in London and the Berlin Tennis Open. Then she played a singles match at Wimbledon this summer, which ended in a minor knee injury and first-round loss.

She followed that up with a doubles pairing with her sister, Venus, at the Cincinnati Open this week, though that also resulted in a loss.

“Winning is obviously great,” Serena Williams said. “But I think in this position, (we’re) just having fun. I didn’t come out here to win this tournament. Obviously, I wanted to do the best I could do, but I think having fun and also just seeing how we are and how we feel out there.

“Being out there with the fans, too, is just really good, just to give them another opportunity to see us play, which is really cool.”

The sisters could still elect to pair up at the U.S. Open, where Venus Williams will play in singles competition after receiving her own wild card.

–Field Level Media

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