Williams and Alcaraz bow out as Bencic and Cobolli reach US Open mixed doubles final
The high‑profile pair of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz fell to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, who will contest Wednesday’s mixed doubles title.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were eliminated from the US Open mixed doubles quarter‑finals after a 5‑4, 4‑1 defeat to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli. The Swiss‑Italian duo will meet in Wednesday’s final, which will be played immediately after the semi‑finals.
Why the upset matters
The loss is notable because both Williams and Alcaraz are among the sport’s biggest names. Williams, often described as the greatest women’s player ever, was making her competitive return to Arthur Ashe Stadium after retiring in 2022. Alcaraz, a seven‑time Grand Slam champion, was back from a lengthy injury lay‑off. Their early exit underscores the growing depth of talent in the mixed‑doubles field, where specialists and singles stars collide.
"We felt their aura for sure," Bencic said after the match. "It was an honour to play."
Both winners have impressive credentials. Cobolli, the French Open runner‑up in singles, has been enjoying a breakout season, while Bencic, an Olympic gold medallist, has previously beaten Williams in singles competition.
What comes next
Bencic and Cobolli will contest the title on Wednesday, with the final and semi‑finals scheduled back‑to‑back. Their victory also adds to a day of surprises that saw other high‑profile pairings, such as Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, knocked out by Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten. The defending champions, Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani, were also dethroned, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the tournament.
With the mixed doubles title now open, fans can expect a competitive finale that may boost the profile of the event and encourage more top singles players to participate in future editions.
