US Open: Alcaraz wins on return, aggressive Sabalenka advances

Defending US Open champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka both advanced to the second round with straight-sets victories. Alcaraz, returning after a four-month absence due to a wrist injury, defeated Roman Safiullin, expressing his joy at competing again. Sabalenka, aiming for a third consecutive US Open title, overcame Camila Osorio with an aggressive performance despite some unforced errors. Other notable winners included Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek, while Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner were absent or eliminated. Stefanos Tsitsipas secured a win against Arthur Fils, and Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton also progressed.

The US Open tennis championships are feeling more open this year due to the absence of top players and the return of others from injury. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is sidelined with a knee injury, while Carlos Alcaraz is returning after a four-month break due to a wrist injury. In the women's draw, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has shown recent struggles, putting her No. 1 ranking at risk and opening the door for other contenders like Jessica Pegula. Novak Djokovic, at 39, is also facing questions about his form due to health concerns. This shift in player availability creates more opportunities for a wider range of athletes to compete for the titles.

Carlos Alcaraz is set to return to competitive singles play at the US Open after a four-month layoff due to a wrist injury that caused him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. Despite the extended break, the 23-year-old Spaniard expressed confidence in his physical condition and mechanics, stating he expects to play like his usual Grand Slam-winning self. Alcaraz, the defending US Open champion, acknowledges the challenge of returning without extensive preparation but feels ready to compete. He aims to focus on the process and enjoy his return to New York, where he feels there is no better tournament to make his comeback. His primary goals are to stay healthy and manage any lingering mental fears related to the injury.

The 2026 US Open main draw begins Sunday, August 30th, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, running until September 13th. Defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are among the top seeds, though World Number One Jannik Sinner has withdrawn due to a knee injury. Major storylines include Alcaraz's return after a wrist injury, the mixed doubles title already won by Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, and the Williams sisters receiving wildcards for women's doubles. Novak Djokovic continues his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title. Roger Federer is not making a comeback.

Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik won the U.S. Open mixed doubles championship on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, in New York. They defeated Switzerland's Belinda Bencic and Italy's Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 1-6 (10-6) in their first time playing together. Mensik's powerful serve and net play, combined with their matching pink and maroon outfits, contributed to their victory, earning them $1 million to share. This was Mensik's first mixed doubles event, and he maintained a 100% win rate. The duo had previously saved match points in the semifinals to advance. The U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament featured a revamped format this year, aiming to attract top singles players.

Czech pair Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik have won the US Open mixed doubles title, securing their first Grand Slam trophy as a team. They defeated Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli with a score of 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 in the final match. The Czech duo started strong, winning the first set quickly, but Bencic and Cobolli leveled the match by taking the second set. In the deciding tiebreak, Mensik's strong serve and net play proved crucial for Muchova and Mensik. The victory came after they saved two match points in their semifinal match. Muchova expressed surprise at their win, stating they aimed to have fun and enjoy the mixed doubles event.

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were eliminated from the US Open mixed doubles quarterfinal by Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic. The star pairing, who had advanced past Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool in the opening round, lost to the Swiss-Italian duo. Cobolli and Bencic will now face married partners Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils in the semifinal. The mixed doubles event, in its second year of a revamped format, also saw top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka upset in the first round by Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova. In an exhibition match, Roger Federer returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium to play Andy Roddick.

Serena Williams is competing in the U.S. Open for the first time since 2022, partnering with Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles. The duo is set to play their first-round match against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool. This marks Williams' return to the Grand Slam tournament at age 44, though she is not participating in singles. Other notable pairings in the mixed doubles event include Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic. Williams, a ten-time U.S. Open champion, and Alcaraz, a two-time men's singles champion, have the opportunity to add another title at Flushing Meadows. The mixed doubles semifinals and final are scheduled for Wednesday night, with a $1 million prize for the winners.

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz will begin their U.S. Open mixed doubles campaign against Erin Routliffe, the reigning women's doubles champion, and her partner Lloyd Glasspool. This marks Williams' first U.S. Open match since 2022. The first round and quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday, with semifinals and the final on Wednesday. Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic face a challenging draw against Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, who are the top-ranked doubles players on their respective tours. The mixed doubles tournament features a new eight-team qualifying event to provide opportunities for doubles specialists. Alcaraz is returning to defend his singles title after an injury layoff, while Williams is not planning to compete in singles.

Serena Williams will compete in the US Open mixed doubles, partnering with Carlos Alcaraz. The USTA granted them a wild card into the tournament, which begins Tuesday. This marks Williams's return to the US Open for the first time since 2022, though she will not be playing singles. Alcaraz, who is defending his singles title, expressed excitement about the partnership. While Williams is not playing singles, she and her sister Venus could still team up for women's doubles. Williams previously won a US Open mixed doubles title in 1998.

Serena Williams will return to the U.S. Open playing mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, after receiving a wild card entry from the U.S. Tennis Association. This marks Williams' first U.S. Open appearance since 2022, and she has recently returned to tennis this summer. Alcaraz, who is defending his U.S. Open singles title, is also returning after recovering from a wrist injury. The mixed doubles main draw is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. The USTA has also awarded wild cards to other teams, including Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, and Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul, while some players have withdrawn due to injuries.