Tennis stars headline revamped mixed doubles event as top players prepare for the US Open.
Tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka are set to partner in the mixed doubles event at this year’s US Open, joining a star-studded field for the tournament’s revamped format. The two-day competition begins on August 25 in New York and will once again feature some of the biggest names in world tennis,
Djokovic, a 39-year-old Serbian legend, will team up with world number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus. Their partnership is expected to be one of the biggest attractions of the tournament, which was redesigned last year to encourage superstar pairings,
Several other leading players have also confirmed their participation. Britain’s Jack Draper will reunite with American Jessica Pegula after reaching the semi-finals together in 2025, while Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Norway’s Casper Ruud, last year’s runners-up, are also returning as a team,
Other high-profile pairings include Japan’s Naomi Osaka with Kei Nishikori, American Taylor Fritz alongside Elena Rybakina, and Russian duo Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev. The tournament is expected to feature many of the sport’s biggest names,
Despite earlier speculation that some players could boycott the event over demands for a greater share of Grand Slam revenue, several leading stars, including Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Pegula, have all entered the competition,
Notably absent from the entry list are Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz is continuing his recovery from a wrist injury, while reigning Wimbledon champion Sinner has withdrawn from the Canadian Open to focus on his fitness and has also skipped the mixed doubles event,
Serena Williams has also not been included in the first list of entries after suffering a knee injury following her recent return to competitive tennis. However, organisers say additional entries and wildcard selections will be confirmed after the registration deadline,
Only the six highest-ranked teams based on combined singles rankings will automatically qualify for the main draw. Eight additional teams will receive wildcard invitations, while the final two places will be decided through a qualifying competition,
The revamped mixed doubles format remains controversial among doubles specialists, who argued that it reduced opportunities for traditional doubles players. However, the event attracted significant attention last year and offered a $1 million prize to the winning team,
Tournament organisers believe the new format has helped increase fan interest and ticket sales, with another exciting edition expected as many of tennis’ biggest stars prepare to compete together before the US Open singles tournament begins.
