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Star-studded mixed doubles team ousted from US Open
Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik defeated Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 to win the US Open mixed doubles title. Earlier, Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were knocked out in the quarterfinals by the same opponents, ending their celebrated partnership.
NEW YORK — Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik captured the US Open mixed doubles title on Wednesday, defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland and Flavio Cobolli of Italy 6-3, 1-6, 10-6. The Czech pair secured their first Grand Slam trophy together, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Muchova and Mensik started strongly, with Mensik serving an ace on set point to take the opening set in under 30 minutes. Bencic responded by breaking serve in the second set, leveling the match when her forehand clipped the net cord and skipped past Muchova. The deciding 10-point tiebreak was controlled by Mensik's powerful serving and sharp net play; he converted a volley to open an 8-4 lead, and Muchova's best serve of the match brought up championship points before Mensik sealed it with another ace.
"I think in the end the matching outfits made the difference for us," Muchova joked during the trophy ceremony, as quoted by Al Jazeera. "I wasn't really expecting to be standing here tonight. We came out just to have fun and enjoy these mixed doubles and now we are standing here. So we did something right." She added, "I think this is a really good start to the US Open for all of us."
The pair had earlier saved two match points in their semifinal against Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev.
Williams and Alcaraz's Short-Lived Partnership
The star-studded team of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start but were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Bencic and Cobolli, 5-4 (4), 4-1, as reported by multiple outlets including Nbc Sports and The Canberra Times.
Williams returned to the US Open for the first time since 2022, while Alcaraz was playing his first competitive match since April after missing four months with a wrist injury. They won their opening match against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1, delighting fans who chanted their names.
"I never expected to be back on this court," Williams said, according to Nbc Sports. Alcaraz admitted his nerves, saying, "I was really, really nervous. I was out for four months ... I almost forget how it feels."
Bencic acknowledged the aura of her opponents: "It was surreal to play against Carlos... Just a huge honor. Obviously you can feel both of their auras," she said, as reported by Nbc Sports. Cobolli, who before the match called them "the queen of tennis and the king of now," quipped after the win, "Playing Serena and Carlos on Arthur Ashe is not easy. So now maybe we take a beer," according to Malay Mail.
Other Notable Results and Format Changes
The mixed doubles event, in its second year of a revamped format, saw several high-profile pairings fall early. World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic were eliminated by Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, as reported by multiple sources. Defending champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani lost to Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, who also overcame Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud in a match that featured four blown match points, according to Anchorage Daily News.
The married couple Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils reached the semifinals, where they were scheduled to face Bencic and Cobolli, but they were later defeated. The tournament features an unconventional scoring format in the first three rounds, with sets to four games and a 10-point tiebreaker; only the final uses traditional six-game sets. The winning team earns $1 million.
Perspectives
Winners' perspective: Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik expressed joy and surprise at their victory, attributing their success to fun and teamwork.
Losers' perspective: Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz reflected on the honor and excitement of playing together, despite the loss.
Opponents' perspective: Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli described the match as an honor and a challenge, while enjoying their upset win.
How each outlet told it
Al Jazeera
Framing: The headline emphasizes the nationality of the winners and the event, leaving out the score and the fact that it is a first Grand Slam title for the pair. — celebratory and descriptive, supported by phrases like "sealing the victory" and "leaping in celebration".
Facts Included:
Czech pair Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik beat Switzerland's Belinda Bencic and Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 to win the US Open mixed doubles title
securing their first Grand Slam trophy as a team
Muchova and Mensik got off to a fast start in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday
Mensik hammering an ace past Bencic on set point to claim the opener in less than 30 minutes
Bencic drilled a return winner to break serve for a 3-1 lead in the second
Swiss player later levelled the match when her forehand clipped the net cord
In the deciding 10-point match tiebreak, Mensik's big serve and sharp work at the net helped the Czechs seize control
The 20-year-old put away a firm volley to open an 8-4 lead
Muchova produced her best serve of the match to bring up championship points
Mensik sealed the victory with another ace
Muchova and Mensik had earlier saved two match points against Russians Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev in their semifinal
Muchova said during the trophy ceremony: "I think in the end the matching outfits made the difference for us."
"I wasn't really expecting to be standing here tonight. We came out just to have fun and enjoy these mixed doubles and now we are standing here. So we did something right."
"I think this is a really good start to the US Open for all of us," she added after congratulating Bencic and Cobolli.
The 16-team mixed doubles draw began on Tuesday in the second year of the tournament's revamped format, which features leading singles players and is aimed at drawing bigger crowds
Among the star-studded teams, Novak Djokovic joined forces with Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz played alongside Serena Williams.
Framing: The headline emphasizes the married couple Svitolina and Monfils reaching the mixed doubles semifinals, highlighting their personal relationship and competitive achievement. It leaves out specifics like scores, opponents, and other notable results. — light and celebratory, supported by quotes like 'Happy wife, happy life' and descriptions of the couple as 'quite a pair.'
Facts Included:
Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils reached the US Open mixed doubles semifinals by edging Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten 5-4 (6), 4-5 (3) (10-8).
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz lost to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 5-4 (4), 4-1.
Semifinal matchups: Svitolina/Monfils vs. Bencic/Cobolli and Mirra Andreeva/Andrey Rublev vs. Karolina Muchova/Jakub Mensik.
Winning team earns $1 million.
Monfils said, 'Happy wife, happy life.'
Williams said, 'It's always such an amazing place to be here. I never expected to be back on this court.'
Williams is 44 years old, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion; Alcaraz is a two-time U.S. Open champion.
Andreeva and Rublev saved a match point to beat Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori 1-4, 4-1 (11-9).
Andreeva revealed she used to have a crush on her partner and fellow Russian Rublev, who is 28.
Andreeva and Rublev beat Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud 4-1, 4-5 (9) (10-5) after blowing four match points in the second set.
Monfils will turn 40 on Sept. 1; he reached the US Open semifinals in 2016. Svitolina reached the final four in 2019.
Monfils and Svitolina were given wild cards; Monfils is from Franceable and Svitolina is from Ukraine. They were married in 2021, and daughter Skaï was born the next year.
Svitolina said they entered with no expectations and only worked on tactics on Monday.
Muchova and Mensik beat Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul 4-1, 5-3. Mensik texted Muchova to coordinate outfits; both wore pink tops and maroon bottoms.
Siniakova and Patten eliminated Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic 1-4, 4-2 (10-2); Siniakova closed it with an ace.
The tournament was overhauled last year, moved to a two-day event, and scoring format uses sets to four games with a 10-point tiebreaker; only the final uses traditional six-game sets.
An eight-team qualifying tournament was added this year for doubles specialists.
Svitolina and Monfils routed Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-1, 4-1 in their opening match.
Muchova and Mensik edged Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arevalo 4-1, 2-4 (10-7).
Framing: The headline focuses on the star duo's defeat, emphasizing their celebrity status, and leaves out the fact they won their first match before the loss. — sympathetic; for example, describes Williams as 'the decorated star' and notes 'Alcaraz's timing, movements and serve looked off'.
Facts Included:
Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams won their first-round mixed doubles match against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3 4-1
They subsequently lost in the quarter-final to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 5-4 (7-4) 4-1
Williams played her first match at the US Open since 2022 when she was beaten in singles by Ajla Tomljanovic
Alcaraz played for the first time since April 14 after missing four months with a wrist injury
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic were knocked out earlier
Champions get $US1 million ($A1.4 million) in the second year of the new mixed doubles format
Quote from Alcaraz: "I'm playing with the one and only Serena Williams"
Quote from Williams: "It's always such an amazing place to be here"
Framing: The headline frames the story with a celebratory and informal tone, focusing on the winners' reaction ('Maybe we take a beer') and the high-profile nature of their victory. — The tone is mostly neutral and factual, but includes lighthearted quotes from players, balancing the disappointment of the losing pair with the celebration of the winners.
Facts Included:
Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic defeated Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open mixed doubles, score 5-4, 4-1.
Bencic and Cobolli advanced to the final, where semifinals and finals are played back-to-back.
Bencic said, 'We felt their aura for sure. It was an honor to play.'
Cobolli said, 'Playing Serena and Carlos on Arthur Ashe is not easy. So now maybe we take a beer.'
Williams and Alcaraz had earlier defeated Lloyd Glasspool and Emma Routliffe.
Williams was returning to Arthur Ashe Stadium after her 2022 retirement.
Alcaraz was back after a lengthy injury layoff.
The pair wore coordinated purple and black jersey-type outfits and smiled and joked on changeovers.
Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were also sent packing, losing to Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten in three sets.
Defending champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani lost to Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev.
Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik won a quarterfinal against Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arevalo.
Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina won two matches, including a quarterfinal win over Siniakova and Patten.
Svitolina said, 'We had zero expectations.'
Monfils said it is too early for talk about winning the title, but 'we will have great images for our memory.'
Framing: The headline emphasizes the outcome (knocked out) and names both players, but does not mention the opponents or the score. — nostalgic and sympathetic, as seen in the description of Williams' 'vintage shots' and Alcaraz's admission of nervousness
Facts Included:
Williams and Alcaraz knocked out in mixed doubles quarterfinals by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 5-4 (4), 4-1 on Tuesday
Williams and Alcaraz defeated Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1 in the first round
Williams' first match at Flushing Meadows since 2022
Williams is 44 years old
Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon because of a right wrist injury
Alcaraz's last competitive action was April 14
Cobolli called them "the queen of tennis and the king of now."
Williams said: "I never expected to be back on this court."
Alcaraz said: "I was really, really nervous. I was out for four months ... I almost forget how it feels."
Bencic said: "It was surreal to play against Carlos... Just a huge honor. Obviously you can feel both of their auras."
The mixed doubles matches in the first three rounds feature sets to four games with a tiebreaker at 4-all and a 10-point tiebreaker in lieu of a third set
Only the final on Wednesday will resemble a regular match with traditional sets to six games
Champions get $1 million
Semifinalists include Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, and Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimKarolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik beat Switzerland's Belinda Bencic and Italy's Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 to win the US Open mixed doubles title.
ClaimMuchova said: "I wasn't really expecting to be standing here tonight. We came out just to have fun and enjoy these mixed doubles and now we are standing here. So we did something right."
ClaimThe 16-team mixed doubles draw began on Tuesday in the second year of the tournament's revamped format, which features leading singles players and is aimed at drawing bigger crowds in the week before the singles main draw.
ClaimThe mixed doubles matches in the first three rounds feature sets to four games with a tiebreaker at 4-all and a 10-point tiebreaker in lieu of a third set.
ClaimElina Svitolina and Gael Monfils reached the US Open mixed doubles semifinals by edging Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten 5-4 (6), 4-5 (3) (10-8).