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NEW YORK - Serena Williams will make a high-profile competitive return to the U.S. Open alongside defending men’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal because of a knee injury has reshaped the tournament’s men’s singles landscape. Williams, 44, has received a wildcard to compete in the mixed doubles alongside Alcaraz, marking her first competitive appearance at Flushing Meadows since 2022. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and six-time U.S. Open winner previously captured the mixed doubles title in New York in 1998 with Max Mirnyi. The American returned to doubles action this month with sister Venus Williams at the Cincinnati Open, but the pair suffered a first-round defeat in their first tournament together since 2022. Serena announced her return to competitive tennis in June after a four-year absence. Alcaraz, meanwhile, will head to New York as one of the leading contenders for the men’s singles crown after confirming his return from a four-month injury layoff. The Spaniard defeated Sinner in last year’s U.S. Open final. Sinner’s withdrawal is a major setback for the tournament. The 24-year-old Italian, who successfully defended his Wimbledon title last month to claim his fifth Grand Slam, has not played since suffering the right knee injury earlier this month. Despite working with his medical team, Sinner said he needed more time to recover and decided against competing at the season’s final Grand Slam. He had already withdrawn from the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open. Britain’s Jack Draper and former world No. 4 Holger Rune have also pulled out of the tournament because of injuries. Draper, now ranked 143rd, has struggled with a long-term left-arm problem, while Rune continues his recovery from a serious left Achilles injury. The absence of Sinner, Draper and Rune leaves Alcaraz as the highest-ranked player in the men’s field and strengthens his title prospects. Meanwhile, the mixed doubles competition will feature several star combinations, including world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka with Novak Djokovic and American duo Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz. The U.S. Open is scheduled to run from August 23 to September 13.