The star-studded pairing of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz saw their
Despite showing flashes of her vintage form, Williams and her 23-year-old partner could not overcome the momentum of Bencic and Cobolli. Alcaraz, who had been sidelined since April 14 with a right wrist injury, admitted to nerves during the match, noting that he felt rusty after his extended absence from competitive play. While the crowd remained firmly behind the high-profile team, their opponents managed to dictate the pace, particularly after clinching a tight first-set tiebreaker.
High-Profile Departures and Tournament Format
The exit of Williams and Alcaraz followed the elimination of top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka. The pair, who entered the tournament as the favorites based on their combined singles rankings, were defeated by Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova. The match concluded 1-4, 4-2, 10-2, with Siniakova sealing the upset with a decisive ace. These early exits highlight the unpredictable nature of the tournament's revamped mixed doubles format, which was redesigned to encourage participation from top singles players by utilizing a shorter, two-day schedule with sets played to four games.
The condensed format, which features a 10-point tiebreaker in place of a third set, is intended to minimize physical strain on competitors. While the U.S. Tennis Association aimed to attract marquee names like Djokovic and Sabalenka, the fast-paced nature of the matches has created a challenging environment for even the most decorated athletes. For Williams, the focus now shifts to potential future appearances, though she has confirmed she does not intend to return to singles competition.
Svitolina and Monfils Keep Title Hopes Alive
While the tournament saw several major stars depart, the husband-and-wife duo of Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils successfully navigated their way into the semifinals. The couple edged past Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten in a hard-fought encounter, winning 5-4 (6), 4-5 (3), 10-8. Their victory keeps them in contention for the $1 million prize, a milestone that would be particularly significant for Monfils, who is competing in his final Grand Slam tournament before retirement.
Svitolina and Monfils are set to face Bencic and Cobolli in Wednesday's semifinal round. The other half of the bracket will feature Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, who will square off against Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik. As the event progresses toward the final, the remaining teams are vying for the substantial purse and the opportunity to claim the title in this unique, accelerated format.
