Alcaraz conveys optimism after the mixed doubles: "I feel amazing despite having lost"

Carlos Navarro - 26 Aug 2026 | 02:18
Carlos Alcaraz dobles mixto US Open 2026 Serena Williams

Serena Williams, her partner in a historic occasion, shared a video on social media of the moments post-defeat... and showed a happy Carlos with a smile from ear to ear. Is there confidence?

Go to comments section Preferir Puntodebreak en Google
Alcaraz and his grand return to the circuit with Serena Williams.

It is difficult to measure a player's feelings through mixed doubles. A modality different from singles, with antagonistic dynamics and the possibility of advancing and accumulating games without being in top form. Not everything revolves around your racket, something that perhaps Carlos Alcaraz appreciated at times today: an immense Serena Williams set the pace to secure a victory in the mixed doubles at the US Open 2026, although the fuel ran out in the middle of the second match, the quarter-finals.

Does this mean we should be pessimistic? Far from it. The Alcaraz that stepped onto Arthur Ashe, his first competitive stage in almost five months, was perfectly recognizable in several aspects. The one that stands out most, surely the most important, is his body language: smiles, constant encouragement to his partner, interaction with the audience, hunger at crucial moments. No trace of discomfort, a bad gesture looking at his wrist, a moment of concern in his gaze. It is practically certain that he did not push his limits and did not play at 100%, but it was a perfect introduction: just over two hours of tennis to shake off the rust of the machinery while enjoying sharing the net with a true legend of world tennis.

This is what Alcaraz said after a day of mixed doubles with Serena Williams

That contagious joy was present even in the locker room. After the defeat, Carlitos maintained his composure: affectionate, smiling, happy to have enjoyed one of those days that he will tell his grandchildren about a long time from now. Starting his journey in Flushing Meadows with a smile, beyond his feeling with the ball, is extremely important... and this was demonstrated in words captured by Serena herself, who shared a video on her social media that leaves fans very reassured.

In it, the Saginaw native asked her dancing partner, still immersed in his recovery exercises on the bike, how he felt today. "I feel great, really. Even though I lost, playing with her makes me feel amazing", remarked a very calm Carlos, with wonderful camaraderie. "We won! We won one match and lost another", pointed out the American with a laugh. "We tied, yes", certified the Murcian with a smile, in a clip that leaves us with a feeling that goes beyond relief: tranquility, joy... and the ability to wrap up what is just the first step towards being competitive in New York.

What does Alcaraz need to resolve before the tournament starts?

Not everything was smooth sailing, of course. On a tennis level, the sensations drift away from the idea of the dominant Alcaraz we have in mind: nervous, inconsistent, and with two clear areas for improvement. The main one is the serve: he did not dare to go above 185 km/h at any moment, figures that would leave him very exposed in the final draw, although the big question is whether this is a conscious decision, a dictate not to force in mixed doubles... or the physical impossibility of achieving it, which would diminish his options for the final draw.

On the other hand, we also saw an Alcaraz constantly struggling with the ball on the return, unable to find the correct timing and perhaps afraid to continue his strokes after receiving strong serves like those from Cobolli or Glasspool. That said, there were positive aspects too: very good hands near the net, a forehand that had moments of high speed, and above all, no physical issues. A small beginning that leaves tennis-related questions, but that more than fulfills the marked goal: returning to enjoy the sport, returning to smile on court, returning, in short, to being Carlos Alcaraz. Let’s keep going.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz transmite optimismo tras el dobles mixto: "Me siento increíble a pesar de haber perdido"