Serena Williams, 44, made her first US Open appearance since her tearful 2022 farewell, teaming with Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles after the USTA granted the pair a wildcard. Williams skipped the singles draw, using doubles to ease back in following a Wimbledon knee injury, while Alcaraz was returning from a four-month wrist layoff.

The unlikely duo delighted crowds in their Aug. 25 debut, beating Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool. But the run stalled a day later when they fell to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals after blowing a first-set tiebreak, according to ESPN's coverage of the run. Tennis press called it one of the tournament's most talked-about storylines, mixing nostalgia with real stakes.