US Open LIVE: Williams and Alcaraz knocked out in mixed doubles quarter-finals after Sabalenka and Djokovic exit

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:

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US Open mixed doubles live

• US Open begins with mixed doubles tournament | Live on Sky Sports
• Williams and Alcaraz fall in quarter-finals to Bencic and Cobolli
• Williams and Alcaraz see off doubles specialists Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool in opening match
• Alcaraz back in action after four-month injury layoff
• Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic knocked out in first round

Bencic/Cobolli see off Williams/Alcaraz

23:04 , Flo Clifford

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

22:59 , Flo Clifford

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

22:58 , Flo Clifford

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

22:57 , Flo Clifford

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*

22:51 , Flo Clifford

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

22:48 , Flo Clifford

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*

22:44 , Flo Clifford

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

22:38 , Flo Clifford

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*

22:34 , Flo Clifford

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.

Bencic/Cobolli 4-4 Williams/Alcaraz*

22:31 , Flo Clifford

Bencic serves to stay in this opening set. At 30-0 up she double faults, but she recovers well and an ace out wide seals the hold!

We’re in for another seven-point tiebreak.

*Bencic/Cobolli 3-4 Williams/Alcaraz

22:27 , Flo Clifford

Laura Robson suggests Bencic and Cobolli didn’t really get the memo that they’re supposed to be having fun out here. It’s very serious down their end of the court.

An impressive rally goes their way as Bencic blasts a backhand down the line for 15-15 on the Alcaraz serve.

Williams seals the game on a deciding point with another commanding volley at the net.

Bencic/Cobolli 3-3 Williams/Alcaraz*

22:24 , Flo Clifford

Cobolli shakes his racquet as Alcaraz skies a second serve return off his frame. Andrea Petkovic, on Sky Sports comms, says it worries her seeing him hit those frame balls with a serious wrist injury.

A sharply angled strike has too much on it for Bencic, but Cobolli holds to 30 with a big serve out wide.

*Bencic/Cobolli 2-3 Williams/Alcaraz

22:20 , Flo Clifford

Alcaraz slams an acrobatic, basketball-esque dunk cross-court from high overhead, as Williams holds to love.

Bencic/Cobolli 2-2 Williams/Alcaraz*

22:17 , Flo Clifford

Bencic gets the better of Alcaraz down the line as she can’t quite keep a backhand in the court. The Swiss is a little troubled on serve and gets dragged into a lengthy baseline-bashing exchange with Williams; Alcaraz tries to change things up at the net but is a bit late and hits the tape for 40-30.

Williams nets next and we’re still on serve.

*Bencic/Cobolli 1-2 Williams/Alcaraz

22:12 , Flo Clifford

Ooh, Williams misses a volley and slams into the tape and that’s an opening for Bencic and Cobolli at 0-30.

Alcaraz retrieves a point as Bencic can’t quite reach a forehand down the line... and the Swiss goes wide on a return for 30-30.

Williams batters away a backhand volley which almost takes Bencic out completely, and from 0-30 things are looking much better. Bencic swipes an imaginary racquet in annoyance as she goes long.

Bencic/Cobolli 1-1 Williams/Alcaraz*

22:09 , Flo Clifford

Cobolli and Alcaraz get into a baseline exchange before Williams dives in with a whip-smart backhand volley at the net.

Williams whacks an overhead volley long though and both teams are on the board.

*Bencic/Cobolli 0-1 Williams/Alcaraz

22:06 , Flo Clifford

Williams serves first. Bencic/Cobolli nab the first point but Alcaraz smashes in to get them on the board.

Bencic goes long on the return, and Cobolli gets the angle wrong from the baseline, to wrap up a comfortable opening hold.

Bencic/Cobolli v Williams/Alcaraz

22:00 , Flo Clifford

Back out on Arthur Ashe, with the winner of this one to face Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils.

The players are warming up...

Quarter-finals upcoming

21:49 , Flo Clifford

Alcaraz and Williams will be back out in just a few minutes to play fourth seeds Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic, who beat Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev earlier.

Williams and Alcaraz into quarter-finals

21:43 , Flo Clifford

Serena Williams says: “It’s always such an amazing place to be here, I never expected to be back on this court, it’s a really cool moment. I never thought this would happen.”

Carlos Alcaraz admits he was very nervous before this match: “I think everybody could see, I double faulted on the first point, I was really nervous.

“Playing alongside Serena, full crowd, after four months and a half [injured], I almost forget how it feels stepping on the court. But she made it easy for me, I tried to enjoy it and go for it.”

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Williams/Alcaraz 5-3, 4-1 Routliffe/Glasspool

21:39 , Flo Clifford

So Alcaraz will serve for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Off to a good start; Glasspool nets from the baseline for 30-0. and Routliffe nets a second serve return - four more match points!

Glasspool’s return from a wide serve goes wide, and Alcaraz and Williams are through!

*Williams/Alcaraz 5-3, 3-1 Routliffe/Glasspool

21:36 , Flo Clifford

The crowd are absolutely loving this! Alcaraz nearly dives to the ground trying to retrieve a volley, with WIlliams getting the return at the baseline as the Spaniard sprints across with ease to get the winner. Considering he hasn’t played since April, he looks pretty sharp.

The duo have a match point on Routliffe’s serve... first one saved, as the Kiwi blasts a fierce winner just about beyond Williams.

Still another one, on deciding point... Glasspool gets a smash and he and Routliffe are on the board in this set.

Williams/Alcaraz 5-3, 3-0 Routliffe/Glasspool*

21:30 , Flo Clifford

A roar from Williams is matched by the crowd as she pummels a forehand winner down the line. These two are on a roll of six points won in a row.

They drop the next one but are fully in control of this match at the moment, largely through Williams, are she holds easily.

BREAK! *Williams/Alcaraz 5-3, 2-0 Routliffe/Glasspool

21:25 , Flo Clifford

Williams pushes Glasspool back with some fierce play at the net and the Brit stumbles at the baseline and nets for 30-30.

He goes for the serve and volley but the volley drops long, and Williams/Alcaraz have a break point...

And they get it, as Routliffe clips the tape after some back-and-forth right at the net!

Williams/Alcaraz 5-3, 1-0 Routliffe/Glasspool*

21:21 , Flo Clifford

The volume goes up another notch as Williams plants away a volley at the net. The momentum is firmly with the singles stars.

Alcaraz nets a low angled volley for 40-30, but Glasspool hits the tape and the Spaniard holds.

GAME AND FIRST SET! *Williams/Alcaraz 5-3 Routliffe/Glasspool

21:16 , Flo Clifford

Alcaraz hops about in mock annoyance as he thinks an overhead is called out - but it’s narrowly in! The big smile is back. These two are taking this seriously but also clearly having a lot of fun.

Routliffe double faults for 15-30... and now a roar from Williams after an absolute cross-court rocket brings up set point!

Routliffe’s serve has completely fallen away in the latter half of this set. She gets a second serve in, but Alcaraz fires in a forehand winner, and that wraps up the set!

Williams/Alcaraz 4-3 Routliffe/Glasspool*

21:09 , Flo Clifford

Routliffe shouts in frustration at an error, while the crowd cheers as Williams goes 30-15 up on serve.

Glasspool comes back with a looping forehand down the line.

An ace from Williams brings up game point... and they lead for the first time after another excellent serve!

BREAK! *Williams/Alcaraz 3-3 Routliffe/Glasspool

21:06 , Flo Clifford

Williams blasts in an overhead with a scream.

Glasspool goes long on a backhand cross-court and Williams and Alcaraz have a look-in at 15-30.

And Glasspool goes long again! Two break point chances... Ooh, he nets a volley! We’re level!

Williams/Alcaraz 2-3 Routliffe/Glasspool*

21:01 , Flo Clifford

Alcaraz has a beaming smile on his face at a fine swinging volley, but then double faults for 15-15.

Now Routliffe smacks away an overhead for 15-30... Williams plants a volley behind her and shouts in relief.

Laura Robson opines on commentary that “when you’re playing with an absolute legend,” as Alcaraz is, “you can end up almost doing too much”. It does feel like the Spaniard is doing that at the moment.

Glasspool is rock-solid at the baseline and a winner brings up set point... they’ll have another go at deciding point on the Alcaraz serve. Glasspool goes wide!

*Williams/Alcaraz 1-3 Routliffe/Glasspool

20:57 , Flo Clifford

Glasspool hammers away a venomous overhead and Alcaraz can’t get enough purchase on a Routliffe serve. A straightforward hold for the New Zealander.

Williams/Alcaraz 1-2 Routliffe/Glasspool*

20:52 , Flo Clifford

The announcement “Serena Williams to serve” gets a big cheer. The crowd, as was expected, is very partisan.

Arthur Ashe has also massively filled up after more sparse attendance earlier on today.

Alcaraz and Williams have a giggle as they plan their next move. Routliffe shows her class though with an awkwardly angled volley to the baseline for 30-30, but Glasspool nets and Williams holds.

*Williams/Alcaraz 0-2 Routliffe/Glasspool

20:48 , Flo Clifford

Glasspool opens with a double fault too, but fires down a brilliant couple of kick serves to get to 30-15.

The doubles specialists are looking sharp, particularly at the net, and hold to 15.

BREAK! Williams/Alcaraz 0-1 Routliffe/Glasspool*

20:45 , Flo Clifford

Alcaraz’s first point back after four months out injured is a double fault.

But Williams powers away a fierce winner at the net, accompanied by a loud grunt and trademark fist pump, to get them on the board.

Glasspool nets at the end of a brilliant 13-shot rally and the crowd are already loving this!

Glasspool gets the better of Williams in a close net exchange for 40-30, then Alcaraz nets from the baseline, and we’re in for a deciding point. Break point chance... and Routliffe palms away a sharp volley to seal it!

Alcaraz makes return from injury

20:39 , Flo Clifford

Carlos Alcaraz has overcome his fitness struggles and will make his return to competitive tennis at the US Open.

The seven-time grand slam champion has been out of action on the ATP Tour since April due to a persistent wrist injury.

The ongoing wrist problem previously forced the 23-year-old to relinquish his defence of the French Open title and miss Wimbledon, before he also pulled out of the Cincinnati Open at the beginning of August. However, he is now set to feature at Flushing Meadows later this month.

Williams/Alcaraz take to the court

20:33 , Flo Clifford

Here come the teams! Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and 23-time major winner Serena Williams are the second pair on court, after doubles specialists Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool, who have three grand slam titles between them.

Up next: Williams/Alcaraz v Routliffe/Glasspool

20:25 , Flo Clifford

That means that, finally, the Arthur Ashe crowd are going to get to see a couple of legends, past and present.

Serena Williams makes her return to New York four years after playing her final singles match here (or so we thought). And Carlos Alcaraz makes his big return to competition after four months out with a wrist injury.

Thye’ll be out on court very shortly.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Townsend/Zverev 2-4, 2-4 Bencic/Cobolli

20:18 , Flo Clifford

Cobolli has looked sharp tonight and as Townsend nets, the fourth seeds bring up a match point...

And they take it! Townsend clips the tape, and that’s that. Big smiles all round and warm hugs between the pairs.

*Townsend/Zverev 2-4, 1-1 Bencic/Cobolli

20:02 , Flo Clifford

Cobolli goes slightly wild and overhits at 40-30 and suddenly faces a break point... but fires a winner down the line, which just clips the tape en route, to win the deciding point.

Level in the early stages of the second set.

GAME AND FIRST SET! *Townsend/Zverev 2-4 Bencic/Cobolli

19:52 , Flo Clifford

Zverev saves a first set point with a tightly angled cross-court volley which gets plenty of cheers from Arthur Ashe.

Now Cobolli gets a lob wrong for deuce on his serve... But Zverev goes long in a baseline rally and that wraps up the set!

*BREAK! Townsend/Zverev 1-2 Bencic/Cobolli*

19:40 , Flo Clifford

French Open runner-up Cobolli and former Olympic champion Bencic are first to strike, breaking for a 2-1 lead.

Bencic is the last to serve.

Up next: Townsend/Zverev v Bencic/Cobolli

19:31 , Flo Clifford

Apologies, in fact Williams and Alcaraz are on court second this evening, after Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli take on Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev.

That match is just getting underway now.

Up next: Williams and Alcaraz

19:20 , Flo Clifford

That victory for Monfils and Svitolina means it won’t be long now until Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz take to the court...

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Siniakova/Patten 4-5, 5-4, 8-10 Svitolina/Monfils

19:15 , Flo Clifford

That’s the two doubles world No 1s knocked out, in quite the surprise. That was a very, very entertaining match.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Siniakova/Patten 4-5, 5-4, 8-10 Svitolina/Monfils

19:10 , Flo Clifford

Siniakova nets a big Monfils second serve!

Monfils and Svitolina are into the semi-finals!

Siniakova/Patten 4-5, 5-4 Svitolina/Monfils

19:09 , Flo Clifford

Patten double-faults for 8-9! He looks absolutely furious with himself.

Match point now, with Monfils serving.

Siniakova/Patten 4-5, 5-4 Svitolina/Monfils

19:07 , Flo Clifford

On Sky Sports commentary, Andrea Petkovic muses whether this format, with the 10-point deciding tiebreak, benefits the regular doubles players, who are used to competing with it at ATP and WTA events.

Boos ring out as Patten and Siniakova query why a let call wasn’t made as Svitolina serves, with both saying they stopped playing in expectation that a call would be given. The pair plead their case with the umpire but nothing is given. 7-7.

Siniakova/Patten 4-5, 5-4 Svitolina/Monfils

19:04 , Flo Clifford

Monfils hops in frustration as he fails to bite at a Siniakova second serve, sending it into the net. 7-5.

Siniakova/Patten 4-5, 5-4 Svitolina/Monfils

19:03 , Flo Clifford

Patten fires down an ace before Monfils nets an awkward slice, and the qualifiers have a tiny bit of breathing room at 6-4.

Siniakova/Patten 4-5, 5-4 Svitolina/Monfils

19:00 , Flo Clifford

This is so, so tight. 3-3 at the change of ends, and Siniakova looks so engrossed in this that she’s briefly forgotten they have to change ends.

Siniakova/Patten 4-5, 5-4 Svitolina/Monfils

18:57 , Flo Clifford

To a 10-point deciding tiebreak we go.

GAME AND SECOND SET! Siniakova/Patten 4-5, 5-4 Svitolina/Monfils

18:53 , Flo Clifford

Monfils misses a forehand after an excellent second serve by Patten, and the Brit has three set points at 6-3....

A big first serve seals it!

Siniakova/Patten 4-4, 4-4 Svitolina/Monfils

18:50 , Flo Clifford

Siniakova/Patten eke out a 3-1 lead before a wild return by the Briton.

Patten goes for smash after smash and finally gets the better of Monfils, who is sent sprinting to the backboard and really can’t do anything about that.

The qualifiers lead 4-2 at the change of ends.

Siniakova/Patten 4-4, 4-4 Svitolina/Monfils

18:46 , Flo Clifford

Siniakova holds, and we go to another seven-point tiebreak.

*Siniakova/Patten 4-4, 3-4 Svitolina/Monfils

18:42 , Flo Clifford

Svitolina gestures to hear some noise and lets out a lot of energy, and a beaming smile, as she lashes a winner down the line beyond Patten for 40-15! Monfils applauds his partner too, that was some shot.

Patten fires long from the baseline and the husband and wife pair are a game away from the semi-finals, again.

Siniakova/Patten 4-4, 3-3 Svitolina/Monfils*

18:39 , Flo Clifford

Svitolina misses into the far corner by mere millimetres!

Siniakova isn’t happy about something, I think it’s about the amount of balls Monfils is firing straight at her. Considering the fun and games vibe of their opening round against Djokovic and Sabalenka, this has got quite tense.

Patten seals the game with an ace down the T.

*Siniakova/Patten 4-4, 2-3 Svitolina/Monfils

18:35 , Flo Clifford

Monfils lashes a winner down the line, in behind Patten, and that seals a hold to 30. The husband and wife team are one game away from the semi-finals.

BREAK BACK! Siniakova/Patten 4-4, 2-2 Svitolina/Monfils*

18:32 , Flo Clifford

Svitolina and Monfils have the chance to break back as Siniakova’s serve breaks down. She double faults to fall 0-40 behind... and can’t get a first serve in.

The second is good, but Patten is trapped at the net and can’t volley over from Monfils’ return.

BREAK! *Siniakova/Patten 4-4, 2-1 Svitolina/Monfils

18:28 , Flo Clifford

This has been quite the high-quality contest. Siniakova and Patten have a chance as Svitolina slams a cross-court strike into the net for 30-40.... and Patten forces the Ukrainian back, and she errs.

Siniakova/Patten 4-4, 1-1 Svitolina/Monfils*

18:24 , Flo Clifford

Siniakova is put on the defensive before Patten palms away a classy volley for 40-0.

Svitolina lobs Siniakova but goes long on the next point, and we’re on serve in the second set.

Siniakova/Patten 4-4 Svitolina/Monfils

18:15 , Flo Clifford

Patten goes narrowly wide to bring up another set point... now Siniakova overhits!

Svitolina/Monfils saved three set points on the Frenchman’s serve but they’ve nicked the opener. Siniakova and Patten will have to do this the long way, again. Although it’s never that long with this fast-four format.

Siniakova/Patten 4-4 Svitolina/Monfils

18:13 , Flo Clifford

Monfils apologises after a brutal forehand straight at Siniakova brings up set point.

“If you hold back, you lose in mixed doubles,” Andrea Petkovic says on commentary. “You can’t be too nice.”

Svitolina nets, and we’re back at 6-6.

Siniakova/Patten 4-4 Svitolina/Monfils

18:09 , Flo Clifford

Monfils lasers a beautiful forehand down the line as he backpedals almost down the tunnel to retrieve a lob, that’s a stunning shot and Arthur Ashe loved it!

Siniakova nets and the crowd is really behind Svitolina/Monfils now. They lead 3-2.

Siniakova/Patten 4-4 Svitolina/Monfils

18:05 , Flo Clifford

Svitolina and Monfils fall behind on serve but scrap back into this one as Patten nets for 40-30.

Patten goes long and that sets up a seven-point first set tiebreak.

*Siniakova/Patten 3-3 Svitolina/Monfils

17:57 , Flo Clifford

Svitolina and Monfils save a set point at 15-40 down... and another as Siniakova nets a big serve by the Frenchman.

An ace down the T seals the game! He gestures to the crowd to make some noise.

Siniakova/Patten 3-2 Svitolina/Monfils*

17:53 , Flo Clifford

Siniakova and Patten rattle through another service game and Svitolina and Monfils will serve to stay in the set.

Siniakova/Patten 2-1 Svitolina/Monfils*

17:45 , Flo Clifford

Monfils plays the ball straight to Patten’s body but the Briton’s reflexes are lightning-quick and he knocks it straight back over the other side, with the Frenchman coming to shake his hand in awe at the hot shot.

The world No 1 somehow manages another incredible get at 40-0, the ball at an awkward angle behind him, and that seals the game.

*Siniakova/Patten 1-1 Svitolina/Monfils

17:43 , Flo Clifford

Patten goes narrowly, narrowly long at the end of an entertaining pinball rally at deuce and the deciding point rule means we’re on level terms.

Siniakova/Patten 1-0 Svitolina/Monfils*

17:38 , Flo Clifford

Svitolina whistles a sharply angled forehand cross-court for deuce on Patten’s serve... Monfils nets a tricky ball by Siniakova and that’s the qualifiers on the board.

How the draw looks

17:35 , Flo Clifford

Later on Arthur Ashe Stadium, fourth seeds Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli play Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev.

They’ll face the winners of Williams/Alcaraz v Routliffe/Glasspool.

And the winners of that clash will take on whoever emerges victorious from Siniakova/Patten v Svitolina/Monfils, who are out on court now.

Svitolina/Monfils

17:27 , Flo Clifford

Earlier, Svitolina and Monfils powered to a rapid, 39-minute victory over Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime, 4-1 4-1.

Up next: Siniakova/Patten v Svitolina/Monfils

17:21 , Flo Clifford

Siniakova and Patten have a very quick turnaround, as they’re back on court in around five minutes for their quarter-final against married couple Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils.

Later on, Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams are in action against doubles specialists Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1, 2-4, 2-10 Siniakova/Patten

17:13 , Flo Clifford

Patten was rock-solid throughout there and although Siniakova struggled on serve early on she was utterly unstoppable for the last 20 minutes.

Henry Patten says: “It wasn’t looking very good for a while, in this format we play one bad game and all of a sudden the first set’s gone. We knew the same could happen in the second, and we played an amazing tiebreak. Kat acing Novak on match point was great.”

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1, 2-4, 2-10 Siniakova/Patten

17:07 , Flo Clifford

Match point Patten and Siniakova, who are on an absolute roll here...

They lead 9-2 but it’s on the Czech’s serve... what a time to bring out an ace!!!

An ace out wide seals the deal and dumps the No 1 seeds out of the tournament.

TIE-BREAK! Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1, 2-4 Siniakova/Patten*

17:05 , Flo Clifford

Sabalenka double faults for 5-2, Siniakova extends the gap with a tidy overhead smash... the qualifiers have won 15 of the last 20 points.

Make that 16 of 21, and it’s the Czech again with a lovely volley. 7-2.

TIE-BREAK! Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1, 2-4 Siniakova/Patten*

17:02 , Flo Clifford

To a 10-point tie-break we go! Patten fires in a venomous serve to kick things off, but Djokovic and Sabalenka hang tough in the next rally and the Serb slams away a volley for 1-1.

A rare double fault for Djokovic, though, and he can’t deal with a loopy Siniakova serve.

Sabalenka stumbles over an awkward ball that lands at her feet and the doubles specialists lead 4-1.

GAME AND SECOND SET! Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1, 2-4 Siniakova/Patten*

16:56 , Flo Clifford

Djokovic falls 0-30 down on serve but Sabalenka rescues a point with a lovely net volley into the open court.

Siniakova plants the ball at Sabalenka’s feet for set point... and the Czech whacks a blistering winner cross-court to seal it!

*Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1, 2-3 Siniakova/Patten

16:51 , Flo Clifford

Patten gets the better of Djokovic with the Serb pinned at the baseline to race to 40-15... and Sabalenka nets on the next point. Siniakova and Patten lead.

BREAK BACK! Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1, 2-2 Siniakova/Patten*

16:50 , Flo Clifford

Back on serve in this one...

BREAK! *Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1, 2-1 Siniakova/Patten

16:45 , Flo Clifford

Siniakova continues to struggle on serve - it’s essentially been her only weakness in an otherwise superb doubles career - and despite scrapping to deuce she’s broken.

Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1, 1-1 Siniakova/Patten*

16:40 , Flo Clifford

Patten and Siniakova fight back in this game but the Briton skies an awkward volley at 40-30 and we remain on serve.

*Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1, 0-1 Siniakova/Patten

16:35 , Flo Clifford

Patten whacks down an ace before Sabalenka goes wide on return. The top seeds are smiling and joking in between points, Djokovic in particular seems to be enjoying himself.

Patten and Siniakova play a series of angled volleys which look effortless and one from the Brit seals the opening game of this set.

FIRST SET! Sabalenka/Djokovic 4-1 Siniakova/Patten*

16:31 , Flo Clifford

Djokovic rattles through an excellent service game to seal the first set!

BREAK! *Sabalenka/Djokovic 3-1 Siniakova/Patten

16:29 , Flo Clifford

Sabalenka mishits a second serve return, then screams in frustration as she backpedals to catch a surprisingly-angled ball from Patten and launches a lob almost into the crowd. The doubles specialists are, unsurprisingly, looking more comfortable at the net and in those positions.

Patten goes long and Siniakova nets, with the Czech struggling on serve, before Sabalenka plays a beautiful angled forehand cross-court from deep at the baseline! Deuce.

It’s a deciding point under this format... Siniakova hasn’t landed a first serve this game and she double faults. The top seeds have a break!

Sabalenka/Djokovic 2-1 Siniakova/Patten*

16:22 , Flo Clifford

Siniakova gets the better of Sabalenka in a rapid-fire net exchange as the Belarusian swings long under pressure.

But she serves excellently and wraps up a great hold.

*Sabalenka/Djokovic 1-1 Siniakova/Patten

16:20 , Flo Clifford

Sabalenka plants a lovely forehand winner down the line but Siniakova responds with a tidy net volley for 40-15.

An ace down the T seals an easy hold for Wimbledon doubles champ Patten/

Sabalenka/Djokovic 1-0 Siniakova/Patten*

16:16 , Flo Clifford

Sabalenka knocks a volley into the net but Djokovic gets a point on the board with a good serve... then smashes wildly long on the next point! Never been his best shot, that.

Reminder that this is using a fast-four format, rather than the standard six-game sets.

Siniakova, who is looking to attack every ball, goes long, and some beefy serving by Djokovic coupled by a big overhead smash by Sabalenka secures the hold.

*Sabalenka/Djokovic v Siniakova/Patten

16:14 , Flo Clifford

So, Djokovic will get this underway. It looks a gorgeous day in New York.

*denotes first to serve

Prize money

16:12 , Flo Clifford

Round 1 (qualifying) - $10,000

Round 2 (qualifying) - $20,000

Round 1 (main draw) - $40,000

Quarter-finals - $120,000

Semi-finals - $250,000

Finalist - £500,000

Winner - $1,000,000

Sabalenka/Djokovic v Siniakova/Patten

16:05 , Flo Clifford

Up first, top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic take on who really should be the top seeds: doubles world No 1s Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, who have had to go through qualifying to be here, in one of the more baffling developments of this tournament.

Djokovic is introduced as “the greatest of all time” as the pairings take to the court, all smiles.

What is the format?

15:58 , Flo Clifford

For every match up to the final, matches will be best-of-3 sets, with sets to four games and a 10-point tie-break instead of a third set.

For the final, it will be a traditional set to six games and a 10-point tie-break instead of a third set.

All matches will have sudden death deuce.

What is the draw?

15:53 , Flo Clifford

• Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic (1) vs Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe (Arthur Ashe)
• Elina Svitolina vs Gael Monfils vs Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime (Louis Armstrong)
• Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli (4) vs Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev (Arthur Ashe)
• Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz vs Qualifer/Qualifier (Arthur Ashe)
• Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik vs Qualifier/Qualifier (Louis Armstrong)
• Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul vs Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien (3) (Louis Armstrong)
• Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev vs Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori (Louis Armstrong)
• Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud vs Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz (2) (Louis Armstrong)

When is it?

15:47 , Flo Clifford

The main draw starts on Tuesday 25 August with the first round and quarter-finals. Play starts at 4pm BST (11am local) on Arthur Ashe Stadium and 3pm BST (10am local) on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The semi-finals and final will headline a special night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday 26 August, starting at midnight BST (7pm local).

US Open mixed doubles

15:41 , Flo Clifford

The high-profile mixed doubles event at the US Open begins on Tuesday with several star pairings set to take to the courts at Flushing Meadows.

It was confirmed on Saturday that Serena Williams, who returned to tennis in June, will team up with defending men’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz in New York.

World No 1 women’s player Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic are the top seeds, with the all-American pairing of Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz the second seeds.

There is also a qualifying event, made up predominantly of specialist doubles players, before the main draw starts on Tuesday. The defending champions are the Italian doubles pairing of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.

Good afternoon

15:37 , Flo Clifford

Hello and welcome back to grand slam action! The US Open kicks off with its glitzy mixed doubles tournament, now in its second year, before the singles main draws begin on Sunday 30 August.

We’ll have all the action and latest updates here.