Sports · 22 August, 2026 · 2 min read
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz Lose US Open Mixed Doubles Quarterfinal to Belinda Bencic, Flavio Cobolli
Williams and Alcaraz were eliminated in the US Open mixed doubles quarterfinals. They lost to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals.
The Guardian adds street-scene colour.
4 of 5 outlets skipped it: williams had declined a singles wildcard previously held open for her.
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AP News
“Williams and Alcaraz beat Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1 in Williams’ first match at the U.S.”Read the original ↗
The Guardian adds street-scene colour; ESPN and AP focus on match results and format rules.
Williams, Alcaraz exit
Serena Williams’ US Open return in mixed doubles lasted two matches and one afternoon Tuesday, ending with a quarter-final defeat by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.
“quarter-final defeat by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli”
The Guardian said Williams and Carlos Alcaraz followed a first-round win with a quarter-final loss, with the pair dropping three of the first four games before Bencic and Cobolli ended their run 5-4 (4), 4-1.T
The New York Times described the mixed doubles field in Queens, N.Y. as reshaped after the most anticipated duo, Carlos Alcaraz/Serena Williams, lost in the quarterfinals to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.
AP reported that Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz won their first-round match but were then ousted after a 5-4 (4), 4-1 loss to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.
The Guardian added that the revamped mixed doubles format had cut the field to 16 and raised the top prize to $1m, with early rounds using four-game sets, no-ad scoring and a 10-point decider.T
Semifinals set
AP said Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils became the first team into the mixed doubles semifinals by edging Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten 5-4 (6), 4-5 (3) (10-8).
The New York Times set the next stage by listing tomorrow’s semifinals as Elina Svitolina/Gaël Monfils vs. Bencic/Cobolli, and Mirra Andreeva/Andrey Rublev vs. Karolína Muchová/Jakub Menšík.
The Guardian noted that top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka lost in the opening match on Ashe to Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, who then fell to the married couple Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils.T
AP quoted Monfils saying “Happy wife, happy life,” after the kiss-and-hug moment that followed their semifinal-clinching win.
The New York Times also described the expedited format as producing “Five matches go to 10-point tiebreak,” with the 10-point tiebreak serving as the conclusive third set of some matches.
Prize and format stakes
With the mixed doubles tournament overhauled, AP said the winning team will earn $1 million, framing the stakes for the semifinalists after Williams and Alcaraz were eliminated.
“The winning team will earn $1 million”
The Guardian described how last year’s overhaul moved mixed doubles to a standalone slot before singles, cut the field to 16 and raised the top prize to $1m, while early rounds used four-game sets, no-ad scoring and a 10-point decider.T
ESPN reported that Williams and Alcaraz were knocked out in the mixed doubles quarterfinals by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 5-4 (4), 4-1 on Tuesday, ending their run after their debut together.
The New York Times said only the fourth-seeded pairing, Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, remained in the mixed doubles competition, after No. 1 seeds Novak Djokovic/Aryna Sabalenka lost in the first round.
AP added that Svitolina and Monfils will face Bencic and Cobolli in one semifinal Wednesday, with Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev to meet Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik in the other.