For much of the first set of the US Open mixed doubles match between tennis icons Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool, the latter duo got the better of the former. Williams is a fantastic doubles player, of course, but Alcaraz hasn't been, so they had to adjust and adapt during the match.
And adjust they did. Alcaraz, rusty from not playing a professional match since April after injuring his wrist at the Barcelona Open, was missing shots he might not otherwise do. Williams was still trying to get back in form after not having played much between 2022 and the summer of 2026.
Great players do what great players do, though, and Alcaraz and Williams proved how truly iconic they are. Instead of going through their first doubles match together somewhat lost and miscommunicating, they solidified their attack, each taking a turn of brilliance while Routliffe and Glasspool dipped in form.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are brilliant in their first match in mixed doubles at the US Open
They couldn't afford to. The crowd was firmly on the side of Alcaraz and Williams, as expected, and that pushed the new partnership forward even further. They weren't playing for themselves, but for the entire sport of tennis, and who was Routliffe and Glasspool to stand in their way?
Even after an early break of the legendary duo, Williams and Alcaraz fought back, got breaks of their own, and surged to a 5-3 first-set victory. All the momentum was on the side of the legends, and Routliffe and Glasspool were diminishing.
The second set wasn't close. Alcaraz, seemingly fully recovered from his wrist issue, was beginning to put on a show that had fans roused. Williams was her usual cool and calm, precision-like operator. They were working well together, and the US Open crowd loved it.
The pair jumped to a 3-0 lead, and all that was left was to have fun. They dropped a game with Routliffe and Glasspool serving, but that was expected. There was no doubt who was going to win the match, and the only question was whether they could go on to win the entire mixed doubles part of the 2026 US Open.
Next for Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams in the quarterfinals are Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic, two excellent players in their own right. Alcaraz and Williams are better overall, though, and should be the favorites.
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