Serena Williams walked back onto Arthur Ashe Stadium 1,453 days after what had looked like her final US Open match. Carlos Alcaraz followed her through the tunnel carrying a comeback story of his own.
More than 10,000 people were already inside on August 25 when Williams and Alcaraz emerged in matching purple-and-black Nike kits for the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship. The public-address announcer worked through Williams' accomplishments as the applause continued building, according to The Guardian.
Then Alcaraz double-faulted on the first point. The defending US Open men's champion had not played a competitive match since suffering a right wrist injury in April and later admitted he was "really, really nervous." Williams, meanwhile, was competing at Flushing Meadows for the first time since her emotional 2022 farewell.
Their partnership produced both sides of a comeback in a matter of hours. Williams and Alcaraz beat Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1, then returned to Ashe and lost 5-4(4), 4-1 to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals.
The first match initially looked as though Alcaraz's five-month layoff might be difficult to disguise. He opened with a double fault, was broken early and joined Williams in falling behind 1-3 before the match changed direction.
#open #comeback #since
More than 10,000 people were already inside on August 25 when Williams and Alcaraz emerged in matching purple-and-black Nike kits for the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship. The public-address announcer worked through Williams' accomplishments as the applause continued building, according to The Guardian.
Then Alcaraz double-faulted on the first point. The defending US Open men's champion had not played a competitive match since suffering a right wrist injury in April and later admitted he was "really, really nervous." Williams, meanwhile, was competing at Flushing Meadows for the first time since her emotional 2022 farewell.
Their partnership produced both sides of a comeback in a matter of hours. Williams and Alcaraz beat Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1, then returned to Ashe and lost 5-4(4), 4-1 to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals.
The first match initially looked as though Alcaraz's five-month layoff might be difficult to disguise. He opened with a double fault, was broken early and joined Williams in falling behind 1-3 before the match changed direction.
#open #comeback #since
2 months ago
