Serena Williams & Carlos Alcaraz to team up for mixed doubles at US Open after reported Coco Gauff rejection: Reports

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz could reportedly team up in mixed doubles at this year’s US Open, according to a recent report. The news comes shortly after reports emerged that Coco Gauff turned down an opportunity to partner with Williams in doubles at the Berlin Open.

Williams is finally back on the tennis court after spending nearly four years in retirement and, as she once put it, “evolving away from tennis.” The 23-time Grand Slam champion made her highly anticipated return at the HSBC Championships, where she teamed up with Victoria Mboko in doubles. The pair won their opening match but were forced to withdraw before the second round after Mboko suffered a knee injury.

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Serena Williams is now set to continue her comeback in Berlin, where she will partner Karolina Muchova in doubles. Before that pairing was finalized, however, reports suggested that Williams had approached Coco Gauff about teaming up. The American reportedly hesitated, and Gauff is instead set to play doubles alongside Jessica Pegula.

The biggest talking point, though, is the possibility of Williams joining forces with Alcaraz at the US Open. Journalist Angelo Mangiante recently reported on X (formerly Twitter) that tournament organizers are hoping to pair the two superstars together in mixed doubles. Another blockbuster duo reportedly being considered is Venus Williams teaming up with Jannik Sinner.

“Venus & Serena Williams will play doubles at Wimbledon with a wild card (their request has already been accepted). Fun fact. At the U.S. Open, things are heading toward a star-studded mixed doubles. Negotiations are underway to field, in New York, Venus paired with #Sinner and Serena paired with Carlos Alcaraz. US Open will be Venus’s final appearance in New York before her official retirement,” Mangiante wrote.

Serena Williams reveals the real reason behind her comeback at 44

Serena Williams pictured at the 2026 HSBC Championships | Image Source: Getty

Serena Williams competed at the HSBC Championships for the first time since the 2022 US Open, which had been the final tournament of her professional career before her comeback. Following her opening-round victory, the 44-year-old revealed the real reason behind her decision to return to competitive tennis after nearly four years away from the sport.

Williams told the media:

“I don’t know. I had nothing better to do. I got tired of sitting at home. My kids are out of school for the summer, so why not?”

Williams also had some warm words for her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, praising the young Canadian after their impressive start to the tournament.

“It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Vicky. She really was able to hold up the team and play big on the big points and I could really rely on her. We’ve never played together but it just felt so natural playing with her, so it was actually really fun,” Williams said.