Williams and Alcaraz to play US Open mixed doubles

Serena Williams will team up with Carlos Alcaraz for the US Open mixed doubles this coming week.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made her return to tennis in June, four years after "evolving away" from the sport.

She has played three doubles matches since her return and made her singles comeback at Wimbledon, losing in three sets to Maya Joint.

The American great lost in the doubles with elder sister Venus at the Cincinnati Open on Monday in her first match since injuring her knee at Wimbledon.

Seven-time major winner Alcaraz is set to play for the first time in over four months following a wrist injury.

The pair, who have a combined 44 singles and doubles Grand Slams, have been given a wildcard into the main draw of the competition.

The US Open mixed doubles was controversially revamped last year to include singles stars in a bid to attract more attention to the format.

The top six pairs with the best combined singles rankings have received direct entry into the main draw, with another eight receiving wildcards.

Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are the only doubles specialist pairing to receive a main-draw wildcard.

The other pairings - including Britain's number one Henry Patten alongside top-ranked women's player Katerina Siniakova - will have to come through an eight-team qualifying round.

The competition takes place from 24-26 August, finishing four days before the singles draw begins.

Other high-profile pairings include world number one Aryna Sabalenka with 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic, American pair Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, and six-time major champion Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina has paired up with husband Gael Monfils in the Frenchman's final Grand Slam before retirement.

The tournament was revamped last year to include more pairings involving singles players - something that was criticised by a number of doubles specialists.

A shorter scoring system was introduced, with only four games required to win a set in matches before the final, no 'advantage' scoring and 10-point match tie-breaks instead of a third set throughout.

The tournament was also tweaked to place over two days in the week before the main draw began.

Italians Errani and Vavassori - the only doubles specialist pairing invited to compete last year - last year issued a joint statement criticising the "profoundly wrong" move.

However, the pair ended up walking away with the title - and $1m (£740,000) in prize money - and said afterwards they had "completed their mission".

When Williams' long-mooted comeback finally became a reality, everybody wondered what the motives behind her return were and what she hoped to gain from stepping back on to court.

Playing in front of her two daughters was cited as her main motivation, while she said winning matches was "not important" as she placed an emphasis on "having fun".

It does not come more fun than teaming up with Alcaraz in an event which blurs the lines between an exhibition event and serious competition.

Alcaraz is renowned for swashbuckling shot-making and flashing his infectious smile - even in the most tense moments of competitive matches.

While Williams is more solemn on the singles court, this format has often unlocked her more relaxed side. One of the most memorable examples came at Wimbledon in 2019 when she played alongside Andy Murray in a partnership which also drew huge attention.

Cynics will argue Williams and Alcaraz are only teaming up for the publicity - for themselves, the US Open and the global sportswear brand which they both promote.

There are plausible sporting benefits, though. For both players, the mixed doubles will act as a gentle return to the court following injuries.

The more competitive environment will offer a better indication of their fitness, allowing them to sharpen up their footwork and find more rhythm with minutes on a match court.

But such great champions are, of course, born competitors who have insatiable desires to win matches - and Grand Slam trophies.