Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz make their return to tennis in an all-star pairing at the US Open mixed doubles tournament.
23-time grand slam champion Williams is competing in New York four years after the final competitive singles match of her career – or at least, the first phase of her career – before she began “evolving away” from the sport.
But the 44-year-old is back in action alongside Spaniard Alcaraz, who has not played in four months due to a troublesome wrist injury, but makes his return to grand slam action in order to defend his singles title at Flushing Meadows.
Elsewhere in the high-profile but controversial mixed doubles event, which is in its second year after a major revamp, world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic are the top seeds, with the all-American pairing of Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz the second seeds.
Follow all the action with our liveblog below:
BREAK! *Sabalenka/Djokovic 3-1 Siniakova/Patten
Sabalenka mishits a second serve return, then screams in frustration as she backpedals to catch a surprisingly-angled ball from Patten and launches a lob almost into the crowd. The doubles specialists are, unsurprisingly, looking more comfortable at the net and in those positions.
Patten goes long and Siniakova nets, with the Czech struggling on serve, before Sabalenka plays a beautiful angled forehand cross-court from deep at the baseline! Deuce.
It’s a deciding point under this format… Siniakova hasn’t landed a first serve this game and she double faults. The top seeds have a break!
Sabalenka/Djokovic 2-1 Siniakova/Patten*
Siniakova gets the better of Sabalenka in a rapid-fire net exchange as the Belarusian swings long under pressure.
But she serves excellently and wraps up a great hold.
*Sabalenka/Djokovic 1-1 Siniakova/Patten
Sabalenka plants a lovely forehand winner down the line but Siniakova responds with a tidy net volley for 40-15.
An ace down the T seals an easy hold for Wimbledon doubles champ Patten/
Sabalenka/Djokovic 1-0 Siniakova/Patten*
Sabalenka knocks a volley into the net but Djokovic gets a point on the board with a good serve… then smashes wildly long on the next point! Never been his best shot, that.
Reminder that this is using a fast-four format, rather than the standard six-game sets.
Siniakova, who is looking to attack every ball, goes long, and some beefy serving by Djokovic coupled by a big overhead smash by Sabalenka secures the hold.
*Sabalenka/Djokovic v Siniakova/Patten
So, Djokovic will get this underway. It looks a gorgeous day in New York.
*denotes first to serve
Prize money
Round 1 (qualifying) – $10,000
Round 2 (qualifying) – $20,000
Round 1 (main draw) – $40,000
Quarter-finals – $120,000
Semi-finals – $250,000
Finalist – £500,000
Winner – $1,000,000
Sabalenka/Djokovic v Siniakova/Patten
Up first, top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic take on who really should be the top seeds: doubles world No 1s Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, who have had to go through qualifying to be here, in one of the more baffling developments of this tournament.
Djokovic is introduced as “the greatest of all time” as the pairings take to the court, all smiles.
What is the format?
For every match up to the final, matches will be best-of-3 sets, with sets to four games and a 10-point tie-break instead of a third set.
For the final, it will be a traditional set to six games and a 10-point tie-break instead of a third set.
All matches will have sudden death deuce.
What is the draw?
- Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic (1) vs Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe (Arthur Ashe)
- Elina Svitolina vs Gael Monfils vs Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime (Louis Armstrong)
- Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli (4) vs Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev (Arthur Ashe)
- Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz vs Qualifer/Qualifier (Arthur Ashe)
- Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik vs Qualifier/Qualifier (Louis Armstrong)
- Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul vs Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien (3) (Louis Armstrong)
- Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev vs Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori (Louis Armstrong)
- Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud vs Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz (2) (Louis Armstrong)
When is it?
The main draw starts on Tuesday 25 August with the first round and quarter-finals. Play starts at 4pm BST (11am local) on Arthur Ashe Stadium and 3pm BST (10am local) on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The semi-finals and final will headline a special night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday 26 August, starting at midnight BST (7pm local).
