Nick Kyrgios and Naomi Osaka have made headlines as part of the esteemed preliminary entry list for the revamped mixed doubles event at the US Open this coming August.
The prestigious Grand Slam event in New York is set to elevate the excitement surrounding this format, with many of the sport’s elite athletes joining the fray.
Australia’s Kyrgios and Japan’s Osaka have maintained a friendly rapport, having shared an experience at a LA Lakers NBA game in 2023.
Nick Kyrgios and Naomi Osaka at a LA Lakers game. Getty
Promising talents Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu will also team up for a chance to claim the trophy at Flushing Meadows, alongside Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe, as well as Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.
“I just asked Emma if she’d like to partner with me for doubles – I made that special request,” said Alcaraz, the French Open champion, to the media.
“She will be the one in charge. I’ve known Emma for ages, and we have a fantastic relationship. We are aiming to win, but we’re definitely looking forward to a lot of fun as well.”
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Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Emma Raducanu of Great Britain warm up. Getty
Currently, Australia’s top-ranked player Alex de Minaur has yet to register but mentioned on Tuesday that he and his British fiancée Kate Boulter intend to participate.
“We’re definitely keen to play if they permit us, and if we’re wanted,” he stated.
“If that option arises, we’ll be ready to go.”
Notably, ten out of the top eleven female players in the WTA singles rankings have signed up – missing only Coco Gauff, who recently claimed her second Grand Slam title at the French Open – alongside ten of the top eleven men from the ATP tour. This includes world No.1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, all vying for a $1.54 million prize, a significant increase of $1.23 million from the previous year.
“Just look at the outstanding field we’ve assembled,” said Stacey Allaster, who is in her final year as the tournament director of the US Open.
“It’s going to be an incredible experience for the fans.”
Additional entries include Sinner with Emma Navarro, Djokovic partnered with Olga Danilovic, Zheng Qinwen alongside Jack Draper, Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Musetti, Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul, Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev, Elena Rybakina with Taylor Fritz, Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov, Paula Badosa alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas, Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev, Taylor Townsend with Ben Shelton, as well as the 2024 US Open mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.
This is truly a star-studded lineup, markedly different from the usual doubles specialists commonly seen in a mixed doubles event at Grand Slam tournaments.
Some enthusiasts expressed concerns about the new format upon its announcement in February, with Errani and Vavassori labelling it a “pseudo-exhibition prioritising entertainment and spectacle” that marginalises doubles players.
This time, there are ten major singles champions eager to compete, including Djokovic, Osaka, Alcaraz, Raducanu, Sinner, Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Medvedev, all of whom have previously triumphed at Flushing Meadows.
Pegula and Fritz were runners-up in last year’s singles in New York, while Ruud, Zverev, and 2025 Australian Open champion Keys have also reached finals at the US Open.
“I’ve never been more excited or energised about an event than I am for this one and what it means for the future of our sport: a chance to innovate and showcase tennis in a fresh way,” commented Lew Sherr, who recently revealed he will be stepping down as chief executive of the USTA to take on the position as president of business operations with the New York Mets.
“It’s the only significant sport that features both men and women competing head-to-head on the same playing field.”
This mixed doubles event is set to reduce its participant list from 32 teams to 16, with an adjusted format featuring first-to-four games in sets up to the final, no-ad scoring, and match tiebreakers replacing a third set.
Players still have the opportunity to register until the cutoff on July 28, and it remains uncertain whether the announced 16 teams will ultimately take part in the draw in New York.
Katie Boulter of Great Britain and her partner Alex de Minaur of Australia. Getty
The top eight teams determined by their combined singles rankings will automatically qualify, while the remaining eight spots will be filled by wildcards at the discretion of a USTA committee.
“Once players understood what the event entailed, they embraced it wholeheartedly,” remarked Eric Butorac, USTA’s senior director of player relations and business development.
“They sought out their own partners – whether it be a friend, countrymate, or someone they’re associated with off the court.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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