Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz saw their much-anticipated US Open mixed doubles campaign come to an abrupt end in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, 26 August, as the Swiss-Italian pair of Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli edged them out 5-4(4), 4-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The defeat ended what had been one of the tournament's most talked-about storylines — the 44-year-old Williams stepping back onto the court where she bid an emotional farewell to professional tennis in 2022.

How the match unfolded

Williams and Alcaraz had entered the day on a high, having dispatched Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1 in the opening round earlier the same day. But the quarterfinal proved a different challenge. The American-Spanish combination made a series of early errors, handing Cobolli and Bencic the initiative from the outset.

Cobolli held his nerve through a tight tie-break, sealing the opening set with an ace. The Swiss-Italian duo were even more clinical in the second set, reportedly committing no unforced errors as they cruised to the finish line. Bencic and Cobolli will now face married couple Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils in the semifinals.

Williams' emotional return to Arthur Ashe

For Williams, the occasion carried a weight that went well beyond the scoreline. Her last appearance at the US Open — in 2022 — ended in a tearful, widely televised farewell to professional tennis. Her return on Tuesday drew deafening cheers from a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, with fans celebrating her first appearance at the tournament in three years.

'It's always such an amazing place to be here,' Williams said. 'I never expected to be back on this court.'

In the opening round, Williams produced flashes of her trademark power, including a 120 mph (193.1 kph) ace that drew audible gasps from the crowd. She and Alcaraz, dressed in matching royal purple outfits, displayed an easy on-court rapport — grinning and laughing through their first-round win before embracing after the final point.

Alcaraz returning from injury layoff

For Carlos Alcaraz, the tournament marked his return to competitive tennis after an injury-enforced absence since April. The Spaniard showed early rust but grew into the opening-round contest, sealing it with a forehand winner. The quarterfinal exit cuts short what had been a promising comeback, though his participation in the mixed doubles event was always viewed as a warm-up rather than a primary objective.

The revamped mixed doubles format and its critics

Williams and Alcaraz's run was part of the second edition of the US Open's revamped mixed doubles format, which invites leading singles players into the draw to boost fan interest ahead of the singles main draw. The format enjoyed significant commercial success in its debut year, drawing sellout crowds and featuring several of the sport's biggest names.

However, the format has also drawn criticism from established doubles specialists, who argue it marginalises traditional pairings that have dedicated their careers to the discipline. Bencic's post-match remark underscored the unusual nature of the competition: 'I don't know how I landed on this court — to play Carlos and Serena is a great honour,' she said.

With Bencic and Cobolli now through to the last four, the spotlight shifts to their semifinal against Svitolina and Monfils — a contest that pits two seasoned doubles-format participants against one of tennis' most recognisable couples.