Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz reached the quarter-finals of the US Open mixed doubles tournament but were knocked out by fourth seeds Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli.
23-time grand slam champion Williams was competing in New York four years after the final competitive singles match of her career – or at least, the first phase of her career – before she began “evolving away” from the sport.
But the 44-year-old returned to action alongside Spaniard Alcaraz, who had not played in four months due to a troublesome wrist injury – but is back to defend his singles title at Flushing Meadows.
Elsewhere in the high-profile but controversial mixed doubles event, which is in its second year after a major revamp, world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic were made top seeds but were knocked out in the first round by Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten.
Follow all the action with our liveblog below:
Bencic/Cobolli see off Williams/Alcaraz
Another entertaining encounter goes the way of the fourth seeds.
So our semi-final line-ups are almost set:
Belinda Bencic/Flavio Cobolli v Elina Svitolina/Gael Monfils
Karolina Muchova/Jakub Mensik v Mirra Andreeva/Andrey Rublev OR Diana Shnaider/Casper Ruud
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Bencic/Cobolli 5-4, 4-1 Williams/Alcaraz
Alcaraz goes long on the return, and the smiles finally come out for Bencic and Cobolli!
They’re into the semi-finals, where they’ll face Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils.
Smiles too for Williams and Alcaraz, who have shaken some of the rust off with those two matches today.
*Bencic/Cobolli 5-4, 3-1 Williams/Alcaraz
So, Cobolli will face for a place in the semi-finals. Bencic knocks a net volley right at Alcaraz’s feet to push him off-balance for 15-0. Then Alcaraz goes wide on a tricky second serve.
Williams nets on a backhand, and that’s four match points…
BREAK! *Bencic/Cobolli 5-4, 3-1 Williams/Alcaraz
Very assured by Bencic at the baseline as she trades blows with Alcaraz, before Williams intercepts – but goes long. 15-15 on the Alcaraz serve.
Cobolli reacts brilliantly to lash a Williams drop shot cross-court, leaving Bencic acres of space to hammer in the winner.
Williams gets a smash away for 30-30, but a great return by Cobolli brings up break point chance… an ace saves the first, but they’ll have another.
Ooh, Cobolli reads it well, and Alcaraz goes long!
Bencic/Cobolli 5-4, 2-1 Williams/Alcaraz*
Williams is just producing a few more unforced errors than in the earlier match against Routliffe and Glasspool. She nets on a weak Bencic second serve, and Alcaraz slams the tape too under pressure from Cobolli.
The Italian lets a Williams volley drop and waits, then plants it into the open court.
*Bencic/Cobolli 5-4, 1-1 Williams/Alcaraz
Williams smiles ruefully as she nets and a chorus of support comes up from Arthur Ashe. The decibels from the American have gone up too.
From 0-30 down Alcaraz pushes Cobolli back and fires an overhead into the open court, and an ace down the T from Williams gets them to parity.
Cobolli draws the error from Williams in a cross-court rally and that gives them two break points… Bencic is unlucky that a return drifts wide for deuce.
Alcaraz seals the deciding point at the net!
Bencic/Cobolli 5-4, 1-0 Williams/Alcaraz*
Cobolli is in a spot of bother on serve but Williams hammers a forehand into the net as the Italian goes up 40-30.
He whacks a forehand into the open court and seals the hold. Both teams are so comfortable at the back of the court.
GAME AND FIRST SET! Bencic/Cobolli 5-4 Williams/Alcaraz
Cobolli smashes away after Bencic pounces on a weaker Williams second serve for 4-4.
And Williams goes long at the baseline! 5-4… Cobolli can serve this out now.
Williams mishits a wild volley and that gives Cobolli two set points!
A kick serve out wide seals it. The pair exchange a businesslike high five. Serious stuff.
Bencic/Cobolli 4-4 Williams/Alcaraz*
Big serving by Cobolli to build a 3-0 lead.
Bencic nets on Alcaraz’s serve… and Williams powers away a smash at the net to close some of the gap.
She does so again, and that lead evaporates. 3-3.
