US Open Mixed Doubles 2026: Teams, Schedule and How to Watch
US Open Mixed Doubles 2026 runs from Monday, August 24 to Wednesday, August 26 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Sixteen teams compete for a $1 million winner’s cheque.
Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic head the entry list. Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, last year’s runners-up, are back, as are defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.
Two of the three days are free to attend, and every match is on ESPN.
Quick Facts: US Open Mixed Doubles 2026
| Dates | Monday, August 24 to Wednesday, August 26 |
| Qualifying | Monday, August 24, eight teams for two spots |
| Main draw | Tuesday, August 25 and Wednesday, August 26 |
| Field | 16 teams |
| Venues | Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium |
| Winner’s prize | $1 million |
| Defending champions | Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori |
| Entry deadline | Monday, August 17 |
| US TV | ESPN networks, primetime placement |
| Sponsor | Presented by Vital Proteins |
Why This Event Changed
Mixed doubles used to run in the second week, watched by a few thousand people on an outside court.
The USTA rebuilt it in 2025: moved to Fan Week, cut from 32 teams to 16, played only in the two biggest stadiums, with $1 million to the winners. The aim was to attract singles stars.
It worked, and it was not universally popular. Doubles specialists objected loudly to being squeezed out, with Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori calling the new format a profound injustice and a pseudo-exhibition. They then entered, won it, and took the $1 million.
The redesign won Sports Business Journal’s Sports Breakthrough of the Year. For 2026 it expands again with a qualifying round, which gives specialists another route in.
US Open Mixed Doubles 2026 Schedule
| Date | Stage | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Aug 24 | Qualifying, eight teams for two main draw spots | Grandstand | Free with a Fan Access Pass |
| Tue, Aug 25 | First round and quarterfinals | Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong | Free in Louis Armstrong |
| Wed, Aug 26 | Semifinals and final | Arthur Ashe, evening | Ticketed |
Both Monday and Tuesday include free-to-attend matches, in the Grandstand and Louis Armstrong respectively. Adults need the free Fan Access Pass, covered in our Fan Week guide.
Getting in. Wednesday’s semifinals and final are ticketed through Ticketmaster and usopen.org, and demand is high. Arthur Ashe sold out on both mixed doubles nights in 2025. Prices and where to buy are in our tickets guide.
The 16 Teams
The USTA announced the initial entry list in late July, ordered by combined singles ranking.
| Team |
|---|
| Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic |
| Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz |
| Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev |
| Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud |
| Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli |
| Diana Shnaider and Daniil Medvedev |
| Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien |
| Alexandra Eala and Félix Auger-Aliassime |
| Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe |
| Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev |
| Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Nuno Borges |
| Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper |
| Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori |
| Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori |
| Peyton Stearns and Preston Stearns |
Six of the top 10 in both the ATP and WTA rankings have entered.
The one to look out for. Peyton Stearns has entered with her younger brother Preston, the only brother and sister pairing in the field.
Missing this year: Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys, all of whom featured in 2025.
The entry window stays open until Monday, August 17, so the list can still change. We update this page when it does.
How Teams Qualify for the Main Draw
Entering does not guarantee a place. The 16-team draw is filled three ways.
Six direct entries. When the window closes on August 17, the six teams with the best combined singles ranking go straight in.
Eight wild cards. Awarded by the tournament and announced after the deadline.
Two qualifiers. New for 2026. An eight-team qualifying draw plays on Monday, August 24, itself made up of six direct entries and two wild cards. The two winners take the last main draw places.
That structure is why a team can appear on the entry list and still not play.
Mixed Doubles Format Rules
This is not standard doubles, and the differences matter if you are watching for the first time.
| Rule | Qualifying to semifinals | Final |
|---|---|---|
| Sets | Best of three, sets to four games | Best of three, sets to six games |
| Tiebreak in set | At 4-4 | At 6-6 |
| Third set | 10-point match tiebreak | 10-point match tiebreak |
| Scoring | No-ad, sudden death at deuce | No-ad |
Short sets and no-ad scoring make matches fast and volatile. A single break, or one sudden-death point, can decide a set. That is deliberate, and it is why singles players are willing to enter.
Note that the shortened format runs all the way through the semifinals. Only the final reverts to sets of six games.
Teams to Watch
Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic. The headline pairing. Sabalenka is world No. 1 and two-time defending US Open singles champion. Djokovic is still ranked No. 5 at 39. He played mixed doubles here for the first time in 2025 with Olga Danilovic and lost in the opening round to Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev.
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. Defending champions and the only established doubles specialists near the top of the field. They beat Swiatek and Ruud 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 in the 2025 final and have won the title twice.
Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper. Top seeds in 2025 and semifinalists. Back to go further.
Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz. Two of the biggest serves in tennis on the same side of the net. They were second seeds last year and lost in the first round to Errani and Vavassori, which tells you plenty about how the format works.
Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud. Back after losing last year’s final.
Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori. The Japanese pairing, and the sentimental favourite for many.
The specialists against the stars is the real story. Errani and Vavassori have won this twice while singles players treat it as a warm-up, and the format is short enough that experience counts.
How to Watch the Mixed Doubles
ESPN presents the 2026 US Open, including qualifying and the Mixed Doubles Championship, both beginning Monday, August 24.
The event has primetime placement on the ESPN networks and streams in full on ESPN Unlimited. ESPN’s complete telecast schedule is due later in August.
Outside the United States, mixed doubles is included in the same rights deals covering the main draw: Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, TSN in Canada, Stan Sport in Australia, JioHotstar across South Asia and SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa. The USTA has expanded global distribution for 2026.
No separate subscription is needed anywhere. Prices and full detail are in our live stream guide.
Prize Money
The winning team splits $1 million, introduced with the 2025 redesign. That matches the amount paid to the winners of the men’s and women’s doubles, and it is what persuaded singles players to enter.
The full 2026 breakdown has not been published. We update this page and the prize money guide when the USTA confirms it.
FAQ About US Open Mixed Doubles 2026
When is the US Open mixed doubles final?
Wednesday, August 26, in an evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The semifinals are played the same night.
Can you watch the mixed doubles free?
Yes, on two of the three days. Monday’s qualifying is free in the Grandstand and Tuesday’s matches are free in Louis Armstrong. Adults need a free Fan Access Pass. Wednesday’s semifinals and final are ticketed.
Why do singles players enter mixed doubles?
The $1 million winner’s prize and the format. Matches are short, played in the two biggest stadiums during Fan Week, and finish before the main draw begins, so there is little physical cost.
Are the rules different from normal doubles?
Yes. From qualifying through the semifinals, sets are first to four games with a tiebreak at 4-4, scoring is no-ad, and a 10-point match tiebreak replaces a third set. Only the final is played to six games.
Who won the 2025 mixed doubles?
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, beating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7, 10-6. They have won the title twice.
Can teams still enter?
Yes, until Monday, August 17. The six best-ranked teams at that point go straight into the draw, eight receive wild cards, and two come through qualifying.
Is mixed doubles part of the main draw?
No. It finishes on August 26, four days before main draw singles begin on August 30.
The entry window closes on Monday, August 17. Direct entries and wild cards are confirmed shortly after, and qualifying decides the last two places on August 24.
We update this page as teams are confirmed, then follow the results through August 26.
Updated 3 August 2026
