Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz showcased their skills at the US Open mixed doubles, defeating Britain's Lloyd Glasspool and Erin Routliffe before facing a quarter-final loss.

Making her return to tennis at 44, Williams, a 23-time grand slam singles champion, teamed up with Alcaraz, a seven-time major winner, who had been sidelined due to a wrist injury. The duo triumphed with a 5-3 4-1 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium, clinching the match on their third match point in just under an hour.

“I never expected to be back on this court,” Williams remarked. Meanwhile, Alcaraz admitted to feeling nervous after being away for almost five months, stating, “She (Williams) made it really easy for me.”

However, their run ended in the quarter-finals, where they faced Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic, succumbing to a 5-4 (4) 4-1 defeat.

In a surprising twist, top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka faced an early exit, losing to Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova after squandering a one-set lead. The match ended 1-4 4-2 10-2 in favor of the underdogs, with Patten celebrating the dramatic turnaround.

In women's singles qualifying, British players Fran Jones, Katie Swan, and Harriet Dart advanced to the second round, while Jodie Burrage and Henry Searle faced defeats.

The revamped mixed doubles format, designed to attract more attention, features a shorter scoring system and 10-point match tie-breaks, promising a fresh take on the competition.