By Bilal Ahmed
The US Open mixed doubles event is set to continue its star-studded theme, with the pairings for the 2026 draw now confirmed. The event, which aims to bring more attention to doubles, returns for its second edition.
Last year, the event saw prominent names from both men’s and women’s tennis participate. The US Tennis Association (USTA) reported that Arthur Ashe Stadium was sold out on both days of the draw during ‘Fan Week’ at Flushing Meadows, which precedes the main singles competitions.
Confirmed Pairings and Notable Absences
Among the high-profile teams, Novak Djokovic, a four-time men’s singles champion in New York, will partner with women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Jack Draper is once again paired with Jessica Pegula, following their semi-final run last year. They were defeated by Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, who are also returning this year. Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are included in the draw.
Other pairings include Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz reuniting, and Naomi Osaka playing with her compatriot Kei Nishikori. Henry Patten, who recently secured a third doubles Grand Slam title at the All England Club with his partner Harri Heliovaara, will team up with Katerina Siniakova.
The full list of pairings for the US Open 2026 mixed doubles includes:
- Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic
- Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud
- Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper
- Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe
- Peyton Stearns and Preston Stearns
- Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev
- Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz
- Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli
- Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori
- Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime
- Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori
- Diana Shnaider and Daniil Medvedev
- Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien
- Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten
- Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Nuno Borges
- Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev
Notably, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are not yet registered for this event. Alcaraz has not played on the men’s tour since April and has been dealing with a wrist injury, which led him to withdraw from his French Open title defense and Wimbledon. Sinner, after his Wimbledon victory, pulled out of the Montreal Masters 1000 event to prioritize his health.
Emma Raducanu is also not participating, having been out of action since withdrawing from Wimbledon due to a stress fracture in her right leg. Her return date has not yet been confirmed.
Event Schedule and Format
The US Open mixed doubles event is scheduled to take place from August 24 to August 26. The first and second rounds are planned for the initial day, with the semi-finals and finals held at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the subsequent day.
The revamped format aims to attract top singles players with a smaller field. The entry deadline for participants is August 17. The top six teams, determined by their combined singles rankings, will automatically advance to the 16-team main draw. The remaining spots will be filled by eight wildcard entries and two teams from a new qualifying round.
Last year’s event, which saw Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori emerge as champions, demonstrated the new approach’s ability to draw significant names and audiences.
Both Alcaraz and Sinner are entered into the Cincinnati Open at the end of August, aiming to prove their fitness before heading to Flushing Meadows.
Source: inkl.com
