IT’S BACK … THE 2026 MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP
This August, the “reimagined” Mixed Doubles Championship returns to Fan Week at the 2026 US Open. Last year (see below), after months of controversy and hype, Italian doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori stood center stage under a cascade of sparklers; earning a defiant triumph over Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud to defend their title.
This year, the 2-time champions are back – ready to battle a deliciously eccentric line-up of 28 eager tandems, all gunning for New York’s million dollar Mixed Doubles payday. Very briefly, some of the notable 2026 entries (as of August 3rd) include:
- Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic (Likely the top seeds)
- Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud (Returning Finalists)
- Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils (Tennis’ Power Couple, in Gael’s final US Open)
- Katie Boulter and Alex De Minaur (Newlyweds)
- Venus Williams and Alexander Bublik (!?!)
This year also includes two rounds of QUALIFYING, where we’ll undoubtedly see the most competitive clashes of the tournament. Several of the sport’s greatest doubles talents have joined forces . . . however, due to the priority of Singles Rankings in the main draw, most of these all-star tandems will need to gun-sling on Grandstand for one of two spots in the main draw. We’re talking pairings like:
- Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten (The World #1’s)
- Gabriela Dabrowski and Harri Heliövaara
- Demi Schuurs and Julian Cash
- Jelena Ostapenko and Marcelo Arevalo
DO NOT MISS THIS. 2025’s debut was loaded with fireworks – this year, the US Open has turned up the heat. Monday’s qualifying matches are FREE with a Fan Access pass. Tuesday’s matches in Louis Armstrong Stadium are also FREE with a Fan Access pass. Tickets start at $30 for Tuesday’s action in Arthur Ashe Stadium, while tickets to Wednesday’s Semi’s and Final start at just $45.
FORMAT. 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship
24 August 2026 | Grandstand (6 matches)
- QUALIFYING ROUND 1. Each match best of 3-sets. Sets to 4 games. No-Ad. 3rd-set 10-point MTB.
- QUALIFYING ROUND 2. Each match best of 3-sets. Sets to 4 games. No-Ad. 3rd-set 10-point MTB.
25 August 2026 | Louis Armstrong Stadium (6 matches), Arthur Ashe Stadium (6 matches)
- ROUND 1. Each match best of 3-sets. Sets to 4 games. No-Ad. 3rd-set 10-point MTB.
- QUARTERFINALS. Each match best of 3-sets. Sets to 4 games. No-Ad. 3rd-set 10-point MTB.
26 August 2026 | Arthur Ashe Stadium (3 matches)
- SEMIFINALS. Each match best of 3-sets. Sets to 4 games. No-Ad. 3rd-set 10-point MTB.
- FINAL. Match best of 3-sets. Sets to 6 games. No-Ad. 3rd-set 10-point MTB
2025 “REIMAGINED” US OPEN MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP
Last year, the US Open created an entirely new format for the Mixed Doubles Championship. It was a controversial gamble, but proved to be a risk worth taking. The motivation behind the decision was 4-fold.
- Champion the US Open’s tradition of gender equity
- Increase exposure for Mixed Doubles competition
- For both players and fans, add value to the oft-overlooked “fifth event” within the Grand Slam format
- Elevate US Open Fan Week beyond the excitement of qualifying and special exhibitions . . . by creating a fast-paced, high-stakes, two-day mixed doubles tournament, featuring many of the top talents that draw fans to the Majors
Announced six months before the US Open, that last pillar drew the ire of players and fans alike. Why? Because most of the — top talents who draw fans to the Majors — don’t specialize in doubles.
Many lamented the fact that regular doubles talents would lose earning potential . . . that the new format disrespected the skill-set painstakingly honed by top doubles talents . . . all in the name of hype.
OFFENDED DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
In a joint statement, defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori put it this way . . .
It would be like if, at the Olympics, they didn’t let the actual high jumpers participate, and instead had basketball players compete in the high jump because it’s more ‘interesting.’ . . . You can’t have a Grand Slam doubles and not let doubles players take part. You’re excluding them from their sport. It’s dishonest.
A MAJOR, DEFIANTLY TONE DEAF
Despite the controversy, the US Open moved forward with the revamped 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, reducing the field of teams from 32 to 16, attracting many of the game’s top singles talents by increasing the champions’ prize money from $200,000 to $1-million.
Tournament Director Stacey Allaster was resolute . . .
Let’s be absolutely crystal clear: This is a Grand Slam championship. It is not an exhibition. We’re sympathetic to the doubles specialists who don’t like this change. . . . (But) we know that when fans see top players competing . . . this is going to inspire more fans to not only attend but to play tennis, and it’s ultimately going to grow the sport.
HISTORIC TWO DAYS OF SOLD-OUT COMPETITION
And so the event moved forward. Former US Open singles champions like Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka secured partners, while team seedings were based solely on singles rankings. Meanwhile, Wild Cards were rewarded to eight teams — including defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who had been so vocal in their opposition to the format.
Clearly, the tandem had one singular mission — to prove to fans and “the establishment” that the skills required to excel in doubles were tangible. Even with the sport’s greatest singles talents across the net, they were determined to respond to the pressure by earning a statement triumph.
Ultimately, the pair proved their point in front of 78,000 fans over two days of riveting competition in both Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums.
Without dropping a single set, Errani and Vavassori marched into the Final . . . where they defended their title, defeating 2022 US Open Singles Champion Iga Swiatek and 3-time Grand Slam Singles Finalist Casper Ruud in a championship tiebreak.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, DOUBLES PREVAILS
Over two days of competition, the US Open . . .
- Once again highlighted the significance of gender equity
- Generated unequaled exposure to Grand Slam Mixed Doubles competition
- Added tremendous value to a discipline often overlooked
- Elevated Fan Week’s allure
- And BONUS . . . in just 48-hours, provided a platform for two tremendous doubles talents to earn a statement, $1-million victory on the sport’s biggest stage
A controversial, high-stakes risk from the US Open that resulted in pure poetry, and a unforgettable two days for fans.
US OPEN | OPEN ERA MIXED DOUBLES RECORDS
WHO THE HELL IS ANDY TAYLOR?
Hey, I’m Andy Taylor – a voice artist, announcer and emcee who’s been fortunate enough to travel the world using my voice to add character to global events, media and more.
This unusual freelance world of voice over has found me introducing fighters for the ancient art of Lethwei in Myanmar — the Olympic Games in Athens, Rio, Tokyo and Paris — I’ve even been hired by attorneys to provide a voice in court for their deceased clients. Most in tennis know me as the Voice of the US Open.
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