Hold up, tennis fans! Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka are officially joining forces for the upcoming US Open mixed doubles, and if you thought this event was already wild, you haven’t seen anything yet. This move is massive, especially after that controversial revamp last year, which brought superstar pairings into the mix. Djokovic, at 39, a 24-time major champion, and Sabalenka, the WTA world number one, stepping onto the court together? Yeah, August 25 in New York is gonna be appointment viewing.
The Star Power and the Boycott Buzz
Seriously, the entry list is already stacked. Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula are running it back after making the semis last year. Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, who were runners-up in 2025, are linking up again too. And get this: we’ve got Naomi Osaka with Kei Nishikori, American star Taylor Fritz with two-time major champion Elena Rybakina, plus Russian pair Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev. The talent on display is just ridiculous.
Remember all that talk about some leading players boycotting the event over Grand Slam revenue demands? Well, those concerns are clearly in the rearview for some. Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Pegula, who were all vocal supporters of that collective action, have signed up. It shows they’re ready to compete for that huge prize pot, even if they had issues with the revamp itself.
Who’s Out and What’s Next?
But not everyone’s in. Carlos Alcaraz, the seven-time major champion who played with Britain’s Emma Raducanu last year, hasn’t entered. He’s still recovering from a wrist injury, and honestly, nobody knows when he’ll be back. Jannik Sinner, who just grabbed his fifth major at Wimbledon last month, is out too. He pulled out of the upcoming Canadian Open to “prioritize” his health, and he didn’t even play the revamped event last year. Smart move to protect the body, but it definitely leaves a void.
And what about Serena Williams? The 23-time major singles champion isn’t on the list yet either. She made her comeback at Wimbledon but sustained a knee injury, ruling her out of a planned doubles appearance alongside older sister Venus. The first wave of entries is out, but that doesn’t mean she’s totally out of the picture, or that the current sign-ups are set in stone. The entry window doesn’t even close until August 17! Once that date hits, the six teams with the best combined singles ranking get in directly. Eight wildcards will be handed out, and then an eight-team qualifying round on August 24 decides the final two spots. It’s gonna be a scramble.
Let’s not forget the defending champs, Italy’s Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. They were the only doubles specialists invited last year, and they totally owned it, winning the title and declaring their “mission” complete. They’re back to defend their title, with British world doubles number one Henry Patten and Czech Katerina Siniakova also signed up. Remember, the revamp with its shorter scoring and new schedule caused a lot of outrage among doubles players like Errani and Vavassori. But that $1 million (£740,000) prize pot, designed to attract the superstars, definitely did its job. So yeah, the stage is set. With Djokovic and Sabalenka leading the charge, the US Open mixed doubles is going to be epic. Get ready for some wild tennis on August 25 and 26 in New York!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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