Serena Williams is set to team up with Carlos Alcaraz for the mixed doubles competition at the upcoming U.S. Open, creating a formidable partnership for the tournament. The U.S. Tennis Association recently announced that Williams and Alcaraz received a wild card entry into the mixed doubles main draw, which commences on Tuesday and offers a prize of $1 million US to the winning pair.

This will mark Williams’ return to the U.S. Open after her last appearance in 2022. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made her comeback to tennis earlier this summer. Alcaraz expressed his excitement for the partnership by posting on social media, tagging Williams and adding a motivational message.

While Williams will not participate in the singles event, she will compete in mixed doubles. The USTA had reserved a women’s wild card, potentially for Williams, but it was awarded to Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open winner. Williams recently played at Wimbledon but suffered a knee injury during her first-round match. She later teamed up with her sister Venus for the doubles competition at the Cincinnati Open and may continue to play together at the U.S. Open.

Alcaraz, the two-time U.S. Open men’s champion ranked second, will also defend his U.S. Open singles title after recovering from a right wrist injury. Interestingly, Williams clinched a mixed doubles title at the U.S. Open in 1998 before securing any of her six singles titles there, partnering with Max Mirnyi.

The mixed doubles tournament format was revamped by the USTA last year to attract top singles players, making it a two-day, 16-team event. Noteworthy updates to the field were announced following player withdrawals, with new pairings like Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, and wild card entries for other teams. The USTA also provided opportunities for players like Diana Shnaider to find new partners due to withdrawals.

The current mixed doubles field boasts prominent pairings such as Sabalenka-Djokovic, Williams-Alcaraz, and Svitolina-Monfils, among others. Two more teams will secure spots through a qualifying tournament, featuring a mix of traditional doubles specialists and wild card entries.