A Blockbuster Field Takes Shape
Organizers at the US Open have confirmed 14 of the 16 teams that will compete in the 2026 mixed doubles event, and the star power on display is genuinely remarkable. Carlos Alcaraz will partner Serena Williams, while world number one Aryna Sabalenka is set to join forces with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. That pairing is expected to earn the top seed, with seedings determined by combined singles rankings.
The revamped mixed doubles format, which runs before the singles main draw begins during Fan Week, was such a hit in 2025 that organizers kept it exactly as is. A prize pool of one million dollars is again on offer for the winning team. Last year's final saw doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori defend their title despite a lineup packed with singles stars like Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud, Emma Raducanu, and Jack Draper.
Wildcards, New Pairings, and the Eala Effect
This year brings fresh combinations alongside familiar faces. Jessica Pegula will pair with Taylor Fritz after Draper withdrew due to injury, while Swiatek returns alongside Ruud, hungry to go one better after finishing runner-up in 2025. Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli have formed a new team, as have Americans Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien, plus Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul.
Among the wildcard entrants, one of the most intriguing partnerships is rising Filipino star Alex Eala alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian openly said he is looking forward to experiencing what he called "the Eala effect" firsthand, noting that she carries a passionate crowd wherever she plays. Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe will also compete, along with Czech pair Jakub Mensik and Karolina Muchova.
TennisDraw users are already flooding the bracket tool with bold predictions for this stacked field.
