Bencic and Cobolli End Williams-Alcaraz US Open Mixed Doubles Run

Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli ended Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz's high-profile US Open mixed doubles run in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Associated Press reported that the Swiss-Italian pairing won 5-4 (4), 4-1 in New York, eliminating the wild-card team after two matches together.

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Williams and Alcaraz had opened their campaign with a 5-3, 4-1 victory over Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. The official US Open website confirmed that result and said it sent the American-Spanish partnership into the last eight, where Bencic and Cobolli were waiting.

The quarterfinal turned on the event's shortened scoring format. Bencic and Cobolli secured the opening set through a tiebreak after it reached 4-4, then took the second set 4-1 to complete a straight-sets win. The result advanced them to the semifinals of the mixed doubles championship.

The appearance carried added significance for both members of the defeated team. According to the AP, Williams was playing at the US Open after a four-year absence, while Alcaraz was returning to competitive tennis after more than four months out with an injury. Their first-round win therefore marked both a successful joint debut and a return to tournament action.

The partnership brought together players with eight US Open singles championships between them, the AP reported. Williams and Alcaraz recovered from a slow start against Routliffe and Glasspool before winning that opening match, but they could not repeat the comeback against the fourth-seeded Bencic and Cobolli later in the day.

The US Open mixed doubles championship features 16 teams and was scheduled across August 25 and 26. Williams and Alcaraz were among the wild cards in the draw, while Bencic and Cobolli entered as a seeded pairing. Their quarterfinal result leaves Bencic and Cobolli in contention for the title after two victories on the opening day.