Carlos Alcaraz to partner tennis legend Serena Williams in US Open mixed doubles

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz will partner tennis legend Serena Williams in the US Open mixed doubles tournament this week ahead of the main singles competition. After both players previously hinted they would compete together, the pairing was confirmed on Saturday.

For Alcaraz, 23, the tournament will provide his first competitive test since recovering from the wrist injury that kept him out for almost five months. The mixed doubles event is an official Grand Slam competition and will give Alcaraz a chance to assess his fitness before the more demanding best-of-five-set singles tournament.

Williams, meanwhile, returned to tennis this summer after four years away. The 44-year-old American has since played three doubles matches and one singles match at Wimbledon, although she has not confirmed how regularly she plans to compete.

Alcaraz partnered Emma Raducanu in last year's mixed doubles tournament, but they lost to Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper in their opening match.

Williams previously won the mixed doubles title in 1998 alongside Max Mirnyi. She has also won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 doubles titles with her sister Venus.

The tournament has faced criticism from doubles specialists since its introduction last year. Eight of the leading singles players qualify directly this year, while eight wildcards have also been awarded. Only one wildcard went to specialist doubles players, with Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani, the defending champions, among the entrants.

Other pairings include Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina, Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek, and Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina.

The winners will receive one million US dollars.