Editor's note: Keep up with all the US Open mixed doubles action with our live blog, here.
NEW YORK − The most decorated singles pair to ever appear in a Grand Slam mixed doubles draw did their best before a supportive contingent at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and Serena Williams' and Carlos Alcaraz's return to the big stage was a successful one as they defeated Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1 in the first round.
The 44-year-old Williams was making her first return to Flushing Meadows since 2022, when she lost in the third round to Ajla Tomljanovic. She has won six US Open singles titles and one U.S. Open mixed doubles title with Max Mirnyi in 1998.
Alcaraz, the youngest male to complete the career singles Grand Slam, returned to competitive
tennis after a five-month absence because of a wrist injury. The seven-time Grand Slam and defending US Open champion announced last week that he will also compete in the singles tournament, which starts Aug. 30.
Serena Williams extended grunt return winner‼️ pic.twitter.com/3FgSeUmIR8
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2026
But Alcaraz looked rusty in the early stages of the match, hitting his first three balls into the net before Williams slammed a winner past Routliffe on the fourth serve. They quickly found themselves down a break, and the qualifiers went up 3-1 before Williams and Alcaraz stormed back to take four straight games and took the set when a forehand winner found an open spot, as the familiar grunts and an occasional "Come on!" by Williams delighted the packed stadium.
Routliffe and Glasspool had to win two qualifiers just to make it to the main draw. They were broken early in the second set, found themselves quickly down three games, and were sent packing after 58 minutes on the third match point of the game when Glasspool's forehand winner sailed wide.
Williams, who is not in the women's singles field, and Alcaraz will next play in the quarterfinals against fourth-seeded Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, a 4-2, 4-2 winner over Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz win first mixed doubles match at US Open
