Carlos Alcaraz settled back into competitive action at the US Open by partnering Serena Williams, and his approach was simple: enjoy it and do what she tells him. The American great returned to her home slam after a four-year absence.
The tournament's revamped mixed doubles format has drawn criticism for prioritising the appeal of top singles stars over established doubles players. But the crowds turned out and produced a terrific atmosphere for the headline act, with about 15,000 people packed inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
All four doubles specialist pairings lost to a team of singles players on Tuesday, while Alcaraz and Williams fell in the quarter-finals.
Alcaraz, a seven-time major winner, was playing his first competitive match since April after injuring his wrist. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, was competing in New York for the first time since she "evolved away" from tennis in 2022.
The pair were greeted by huge cheers and were roared on throughout their opening 5-3 4-1 win against Great Britain's Lloyd Glasspool and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe.
Williams, 44, won the US Open mixed doubles title in its original format alongside Max Mirnyi in 1998, five years before Alcaraz was born. Almost 30 years later, she still had the competitive desire. She and Alcaraz enjoyed the occasion, playing with smiles on their faces and roaring each other on after winning a point.
Interviewed during a change of ends, Alcaraz said: "I'm playing next to the one and only Serena Williams, so what else can I do? Just enjoy and try to do the things she told me to do."
Their partnership improved rapidly in their first match as they won eight of the final nine games to seal victory. However, they were denied a place in Wednesday's semi-finals by Italy's world number six Flavio Cobolli and Swiss team-mate Belinda Bencic, who won 5-4 (7-4) 4-1.
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While Williams will not contest the singles at the US Open, she has not competed in that format since injuring her knee at Wimbledon. Tuesday's matches provided the returning Alcaraz with valuable court time.
The Spaniard admitted he felt nervous before stepping out on the court, in part due to partnering six-time US Open women's singles champion Williams. "I think everyone could see I was really nervous, I double-faulted on the first point," Alcaraz said after their opening win. "I was out for almost five months and I almost forgot how it feels stepping out on the court once again. It [took] just a couple of games [to settle] and she made it very easy for me to enjoy it and try to go for it."
For Williams, a return to Arthur Ashe Stadium was something she did not believe would come around again.
Source: www.bbc.com — Read the original article
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