It’s official — Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams are joining forces at Flushing Meadows. The US Tennis Association confirmed on Saturday that the pair have been handed a wild card to compete together in the mixed doubles at this year’s US Open, with the main draw kicking off on Tuesday.It’s a partnership that’s been teased on social media in recent days, with Williams reacting to news of Alcaraz’s comeback by writing: “Oh my God, I am so happy to see this.. you all are not ready yet.” The Spaniard responded with eyes and hourglass emojis, hinting at something big in the works.Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz will team up at the US Open | GETTY”Two champions.. One team” read the official announcement, and it’s hard to argue with that — the duo share a staggering 46 Grand Slam titles between them across singles and doubles.Alcaraz hasn’t played competitively since April after picking up a right wrist injury, making this a comeback four and a half months in the making.The seven-time Grand Slam champion confirmed earlier this week that he’d be back in New York to defend his US Open singles title — and now he’s got the mixed doubles to warm up with, taking to the court on Tuesday and Wednesday before the main tournament gets underway on 30 August.It’s a brilliant boost for the 2026 US Open, not least because Alcaraz became the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam back in February, beating Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.Carlos Alcaraz is set to return to action for the US Open | GETTYFor Williams, meanwhile, this marks her first appearance at Flushing Meadows since 2022. The 44-year-old made her return to competitive tennis earlier this summer.Williams accepted wild card invitations for both singles and doubles at Wimbledon back in June, returning after nearly four years away from the sport. Her singles run was cut short by 20-year-old Maya Joint in the opening round, and she pulled out of her planned doubles outing with sister Venus due to a knee problem.The sisters did manage to reunite at the Cincinnati Open earlier this month, though, playing their first doubles match together since the 2022 US Open. They fell to Peyton Stearns and Marta Kostyuk in a tight contest, 6-2, 1-6, 10-8.As for whether Serena will also enter the singles in New York, that remains to be seen. The USTA is still keeping one women’s wild card available should the six-time champion decide to go for it.The timing of this partnership couldn’t be better for tennis fans, either. World No 1 Jannik Sinner announced on Friday that he’ll miss the US Open with a knee injury — the first Grand Slam the 25-year-old Italian has ever sat out since turning professional in 2018.”I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart,” Sinner wrote on social media. “We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue.”It’s a huge blow given Sinner’s remarkable 2026 form — he’s won five ATP Masters 1000 titles this year alone, including Indian Wells and Miami, plus Wimbledon this summer.Having Alcaraz and Williams lighting up Flushing Meadows together is exactly the kind of excitement the tournament needs.