British No. 1 Jack Draper has teamed up once more with Jessica Pegula for the upcoming US Open mixed doubles tournament following Paula Badosa’s withdrawal, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has also pulled out of the event. This re-pairing arrives just ahead of the tournament, which begins at Flushing Meadows on August 24.

Jannik Sinner Faces Uncertainty Over His Mixed Doubles Partner

Jannik Sinner, the defending men’s singles champion along with Sabalenka, is currently without a partner for the mixed doubles draw after Emma Navarro chose to participate instead in the US Open warm-up in Monterrey. Sinner has a deadline of 2pm on Sunday, August 17, to find a new partner to maintain direct entry into the mixed doubles based on his singles ranking; failing that, he would need to rely on a wild card to compete.

Format Changes and Schedule for the Mixed Doubles Event

In an effort to attract more prominent players, US Open organizers relocated the mixed doubles event to the week before the main draw, condensing the competition into two days: August 19 and 20. The tournament will use a shortened format of first-to-four-game sets with no-ad scoring, and offers a total prize fund of $1 million (£750,000). The top eight teams qualify directly based on their combined singles rankings, while an additional eight pairs receive wild card entries.

Confirmed Mixed Doubles Entrants and Wild Card Teams

Among the direct entrants are top-tier pairings such as Jessica Pegula with Jack Draper, Iga Swiatek with Casper Ruud, and Elena Rybakina with Taylor Fritz. Wild card entries feature high-profile names like Emma Raducanu partnering Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic with Olga Danilovic, and Venus Williams playing alongside Reilly Opelka. Several wild card spots remain open, with British players Katie Boulter and her fiancé Alex de Minaur in contention for one of the final entries.

Significance of the US Open Mixed Doubles Adjustment

This restructured mixed doubles event at the US Open represents a strategic move by organizers to elevate the competition’s profile and engage top players who might otherwise skip doubles. By condensing the matches and scheduling them before the main tournament, the US Open aims to provide additional excitement and competitive opportunities. Fans can follow the championships live on Sky Sports and streaming platforms, where comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA Tours is also available throughout the season.