Sabalenka & Djokovic to team up in US Open mixed doubles
This year's US Open mixed doubles will bring together elite singles players in unprecedented team-ups, with Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka headlining a field redesigned to emphasise star-power pairings. Scheduled to begin in late August before the singles competition, the revamped tournament features a shorter scoring format and $1 million in prize funds intended to elevate a traditionally marginal event.
The redesign generated pushback from career doubles specialists who felt bypassed in favour of celebrity matchups, emerging against a backdrop of players seeking larger revenue shares from Grand Slam tournaments. Despite initial boycott threats, leading women's players including Swiatek and Pegula committed to entries, though several top men—Alcaraz and Sinner—withdrew due to injury or health priorities. The format has become a major draw for the US Open's commercial interests and has restored genuine excitement to mixed doubles.
- Elite singles stars competing in newly redesigned mixed doubles with $1m prize pool
- Doubles players initially opposed; players demanded better Grand Slam revenue splits
- Event proved popular and profitable despite some top stars sidelined by injury
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The US Open's mixed doubles is being redesigned to feature top singles players in new team partnerships. Traditionally a marginal event at Grand Slams, mixed doubles usually attracts specialist doubles players or those seeking extra tournament experience. This year's revamp recruits established stars like Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, with matches scheduled before the main singles competitions.
The tournament now offers a shorter format and $1 million in prize money to boost its appeal. The redesign has provoked anger among career doubles specialists who feel overlooked in favour of singles celebrities. Many top female players have committed to competing, though some leading male players including Jannik Sinner have withdrawn due to injury or other health concerns.
The changes reflect ongoing tensions in professional tennis over player compensation and earnings distribution. Tournament organisers view the star-filled mixed doubles as commercially valuable for attracting viewers and sponsors. The debate has become central to negotiations between players and Grand Slams over prize money and tournament structure.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The redesign serves the sport by elevating a historically neglected format that languished for decades with minimal viewership and investment. By featuring marquee singles players, the US Open has created compelling entertainment that attracts mainstream attention, generates substantial prize money and commercial value, and restores genuine excitement to an event that previously struggled to draw audiences. This approach benefits the entire sport by broadening its appeal and creating opportunities that previously did not exist.
The case against
The redesign undermines professional integrity by treating doubles as a secondary spectacle rather than a legitimate discipline requiring specialised skill and dedication. Career doubles players who have built their livelihoods and expertise in the format are systematically sidelined in favour of singles celebrities with limited doubles experience, perpetuating the long-standing devaluation of doubles professionals at Grand Slams. This signals that years of professional commitment matter less than commercial spectacle, damaging the standing of doubles as a serious pursuit.