Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka are set to headline the revamped US Open mixed doubles tournament after confirming plans to team up for the competition, which returns later this month with another lineup of leading singles stars.
The Serbian great and the Belarusian world number one are among the high-profile pairings announced for the two-day event, which begins on 25 August at Flushing Meadows in New York.
The tournament was overhauled last year by the United States Tennis Association to feature more top singles players, a move that generated debate but attracted significant global attention.
Star pairings confirmed
Britain’s Jack Draper is expected to reunite with American Jessica Pegula after the pair reached the semi-finals in the 2025 edition.
Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Świątek will once again partner Norway’s Casper Ruud after the duo finished as runners-up last year.
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Other notable entries include Japan’s Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori, American Taylor Fritz alongside Elena Rybakina, and Russian pair Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion, will be making another appearance in the event after the tournament’s successful relaunch.
Top names missing
Not all of tennis’ biggest stars will feature.
Carlos Alcaraz, who partnered Britain’s Emma Raducanu in the previous edition, has not entered as he continues recovering from a wrist injury.
World number one Jannik Sinner has also opted out after withdrawing from the Canadian Open to prioritise his fitness following his Wimbledon triumph.
Former world number one Serena Williams has not been included in the initial list after suffering a knee injury that forced her to withdraw from a planned doubles appearance with her sister Venus Williams at Wimbledon. However, organisers have not ruled out her participation, as wildcards remain available.
Entry process still ongoing
The announcement represents the first phase of entries rather than the final field.
When registration closes on 17 August, the six pairs with the highest combined singles rankings will automatically qualify for the main draw.
Tournament organisers will allocate eight wildcard entries, while the remaining two places will be decided through an eight-team qualifying competition on 24 August.
Doubles champions return
Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori of Italy will return to defend the title they won after upsetting several star pairings in the inaugural revamped competition.
British doubles world number one Henry Patten has entered alongside Czech star Katerina Siniakova.
Last year’s victory by Errani and Vavassori was seen by many doubles specialists as a statement after the tournament’s restructuring was criticised for favouring singles stars.
Revamp continues to divide opinion
The US Open’s decision to redesign the mixed doubles competition last year drew criticism from several doubles players, who argued the changes reduced opportunities for specialist competitors.
Errani and Vavassori were among those who publicly questioned the format before eventually winning the title and the tournament’s $1 million prize.
Despite the controversy, the revamped event has proved commercially successful, attracting sell-out crowds and strong global interest.
According to reports, organisers have again offered substantial appearance fees to leading players in an effort to attract the sport’s biggest names.
While the other three Grand Slam tournaments have retained their traditional mixed doubles format, the US Open continues to promote its reimagined event as a showcase featuring many of the world’s leading singles players.
