NEW YORK — The U.S. Open mixed doubles championship begins on August 24, 2026, bringing some of tennis’s biggest names together for a short, high profile event before the main singles tournament.
The mixed doubles field includes major stars such as Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, as well as Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic. The event runs from August 24 to August 26 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
The format was changed last year to make mixed doubles a bigger part of U.S. Open week. The event now takes place before the main singles draw, when many of the sport’s top players are already in New York.
Williams is one of the biggest names in the field. The 23 time Grand Slam singles champion is returning to competitive action at the U.S. Open after a break from the tournament. She will team up with Alcaraz, the reigning U.S. Open men’s singles champion.
Their partnership has drawn major attention because the two players represent different generations of tennis. Williams has won six U.S. Open singles titles and has a long history at the New York event. Alcaraz is one of the leading stars of the current era and has won the U.S. Open twice.
Sabalenka and Djokovic are another headline team. Sabalenka is one of the leading players in women’s tennis, while Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles. Their entry gives the mixed doubles event another major attraction.
Other well known players are also taking part. Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz form an American team. The field includes several other strong singles players who normally focus on their own events. Their decision to play mixed doubles gives fans a rare chance to see top stars work together.
The event is being used as a way to bring more attention to mixed doubles. In many tournaments, mixed doubles receives less coverage than singles and standard doubles. The U.S. Open has tried to change that by giving the event a larger stage and placing it in Fan Week.
The short schedule also helps. Matches are played in a quicker format than traditional Grand Slam singles matches. Short sets and no advantage scoring can make points more important and keep matches moving at a faster pace.
The redesigned event has a $1 million prize, which has helped attract top players. The prize, format and timing are part of a wider effort to make the competition more appealing to fans and athletes.
The tournament begins at a time of major change in the singles field. World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn because of a knee injury. His absence changes the men’s singles picture and puts more focus on players such as Alcaraz and Djokovic.
Players can compete in New York, adjust to the courts and feel the crowd before the singles tournament begins. For some, it is also a chance to test movement and timing without the pressure of a full singles match.
Fans will have another reason to watch because the event brings unusual partnerships. Singles rivals can become teammates for a few days. Players who rarely play together must quickly learn each other’s style.
That can make mixed doubles unpredictable. A strong singles player may have less experience at the net. A doubles specialist may have a different role. Good communication can matter as much as power.
The U.S. Open main singles tournament begins on August 30. Until then, the mixed doubles championship will give the New York crowd a major tennis show of its own.
The event reflects a wider effort to make Grand Slam tennis more varied and easier to enjoy. By placing star players in a fast format before the singles tournament, the U.S. Open is turning mixed doubles into one of the week’s main attractions.
For fans, the result is a rare chance to see champions share a court rather than compete against each other. That mix of star power, speed and new team combinations could make the August 24 event one of the most watched parts of the opening week.
