Serena Williams is back at the US Open, playing mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz

Serena Williams has returned to the U.S. Open tennis tournament, where she will compete in mixed doubles alongside defending men's singles champion Carlos Alcaraz. This marks her first appearance at a Grand Slam event since 2022. Williams and Alcaraz will face off against the reigning women's doubles champions Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool in the first round later on Tuesday.

The mixed doubles event has gained popularity in its second year, with other notable pairs like Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic also participating together. At 44 years old, Williams is not planning to play singles at the U.S. Open, but she and Alcaraz have a chance to add another title to their impressive resumes. Williams boasts an impressive record of 10 U.S. Open championships, including six in women's singles, two in women's doubles with her sister Venus, and one in mixed doubles with Max Mirnyi in 1998.

Alcaraz, on the other hand, has triumphed twice in the men's singles tournament, most recently in 2022 when Williams initially stepped away from the sport. The mixed doubles semifinals and final are set to take place on Wednesday night, with the victorious team earning a $1 million prize.