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Serena Williams and Alcaraz Win US Open Mixed Doubles Debut

8/26/2026

50 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz opened the US Open mixed doubles as wildcards against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool.
The match took place Tuesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, starting at 2 p.m. ET.
Williams returned to the US Open for the first time since 2022, and Alcaraz returned after a wrist injury.
The event offers a $1 million prize (up from $200,000) and will air the final Wednesday on ESPN 9–11 p.m. ET.

History

Historical Context

The US Open first offered equal prize money in 1973, a landmark that paved the way for today’s multimillion-dollar payouts. By 2026 the tournament committed $108 million to player compensation, including $1 million per team for doubles champions. In 2024 wildcards Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz entered the doubles draw, competing for the same $1 million prize.

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Story summary

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz opened the US Open mixed doubles as wildcards against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool.
The match took place Tuesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, starting at 2 p.m. ET.
Williams returned to the US Open for the first time since 2022, and Alcaraz returned after a wrist injury.
The event offers a $1 million prize (up from $200,000) and will air the final Wednesday on ESPN 9–11 p.m. ET.

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