Sabalenka and Djokovic Lead 11 Confirmed US Open Mixed Doubles Teams

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic headline the 11 teams confirmed for the upcoming US Open mixed doubles tournament.

The U.S. Tennis Association confirmed 11 of the 16 teams for the US Open mixed doubles championship on Monday, headlined by the top-seeded duo of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic. This pairing entered the field with the lowest combined singles ranking of any team. Joining them through direct qualification based on combined rankings are Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz, Diana Shnaider and Daniil Medvedev, and the 2025 runner-up pairing of Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud. Rounding out the direct entries are Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, alongside the team of Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien.

Five wild cards were also distributed on Monday to finalize the initial 11 spots. Two-time defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori received an invitation to return to New York after defeating Swiatek and Ruud in the previous year's final. Spouses Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils were granted a spot, as were Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe. The final two wild cards announced on Monday went to the pairings of Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev, and rising 21-year-old star Alex Eala alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Tournament Schedule and Venue Details

Competition for the main draw begins on August 25 with the first round and quarterfinals. The semifinals and final are scheduled for the following day, August 26. All tournament matches will take place in the two largest venues at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center: Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. The main draw consists of 16 teams in total, leaving three wild-card spots currently unannounced. The final two positions in the bracket will be determined through an eight-team qualifying tournament scheduled for August 24.

Qualifying Tournament Field and Format

Six teams were named to the qualifying tournament on Monday, including Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, and Gabriela Dabrowski and Harri Heliovaara. Other competitors vying for the final two main draw spots include Luisa Stefani and Neal Skupski, Aleksandra Krunic and Mate Pavic, Jelena Ostapenko and Marcelo Arevalo, and Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool. Two additional wild cards for the qualifying tournament are yet to be named. This revamped format follows a USTA initiative to attract high-ranking singles players to the mixed doubles event, which led to Errani and Vavassori being the sole traditional doubles specialists in the previous year's field.

Player Milestones and Career Notes

Alex Eala enters the tournament two weeks after securing her first career WTA Tour title at the DC Open, a victory that made her the first player from the Philippines to win a tour event. Gael Monfils, the popular French veteran, has indicated he will retire from professional tennis following the conclusion of this season. While Errani and Vavassori were initially uncertain of their ability to defend their 2024 title due to the USTA's focus on top singles entries, their wild-card selection ensures the reigning champions will compete in the two-day main draw. The event continues to prioritize players with elite singles credentials, as evidenced by the inclusion of multiple Grand Slam winners and current top-ranked professionals.