Serena Williams is set to return to the U.S. Open (Aug 25-26) in New York, with plans to compete in Mixed Doubles—potentially alongside Carlos Alcaraz—while also eyeing Women’s Doubles and Singles. The 44-year-old, widely regarded as the GOAT of women’s tennis, has signaled her intent to keep playing, though her coach Rennae Stubbs emphasized physical readiness as the key hurdle.

What’s Serena’s U.S. Open lineup?** Stubbs told *The U.S. Sun* that Serena’s focus is on **returning to the court and hitting balls**, with the U.S. Open as a priority. While Mixed Doubles with Alcaraz—world No. 3—is the most discussed pairing, Stubbs acknowledged Serena could pivot if needed. “She’s got options,” Stubbs said. The Mixed Doubles draw begins Aug 25, but Serena’s Singles and Doubles participation remains fluid.

Why Alcaraz’s wrist injury complicates her plans** Alcaraz, sidelined since mid-April with an inflamed tendon sheath in his right wrist, is **unlikely to return by the U.S. Open**. Jon Wertheim of *Tennis Channel* noted that Serena could still find a partner, but the absence of her preferred wildcard—Alcaraz—could shift her strategy. Jim Courier joked on the same platform, *“Serena could probably find another partner,”* hinting at flexibility. Alcaraz’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, with no official update from his team.

Venus Williams’ wildcard path to the U.S. Open** Venus, 46, is also targeting the U.S. Open, starting with Mixed Doubles. She played Mixed at Wimbledon with Kevin Krawietz as wildcards but lost in the first round (Jun 24) to Lloyd Glasspool and Tereza Mihalikova. Before that, Venus secured a wildcard for the **D.C. Open (July 25)**, where she defeated Peyton Stearns (2022 NCAA singles champ) 6-3, 6-4 last year. Both sisters are expected at the **National Bank Open in Toronto (Aug 2-13)**, though Serena’s exact events there are unclear.

Serena’s Wimbledon exit and the road to New York** Serena’s return to Singles at Wimbledon ended in a first-round loss to Maya Joint (Jun 18), a setback that Stubbs attributed to her **right knee injury**. Stubbs revealed Serena had told her, *“I would have won if I had a good knee.”* The Williams sisters were also forced to withdraw from their planned Doubles match due to Serena’s injury. Leading up to Wimbledon, she had been **dominating practice sets**, beating players still in the tournament—though Stubbs declined to name them to avoid embarrassment.

The Cincinnati Open as a U.S. Open warm-up** Both sisters could next appear at the **Cincinnati Open (Aug 11-23)**, a major warm-up for the U.S. Open. Wertheim reported Venus is confirmed for Toronto, while Serena’s participation is *“uncertain”* beyond Singles. Courier urged their attendance, saying, *“Come on, ladies, come on down [to Cincinnati].”* The tournament’s hardcourt surface mirrors the U.S. Open, making it a critical test for Serena’s fitness and form ahead of her Grand Slam push.