US Open 2026: Eight must-watch mixed doubles teams in New York

This time around there are more teams, more matches, and even more to be excited about.

US Open mixed doubles qualifying will take place on Monday 24 August, with the main draw competition on 25-26 August.

Many of the world’s best singles and doubles players have committed to playing this year, in what promises to be an action-packed start to the 2026 US Open. We break down eight teams to watch out for in the US Open mixed doubles.

Check out the US Open mixed doubles draw

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are teaming up for the US Open mixed doubles – do we need to say anything else?

23-time Grand Slam champion and former world No.1 Williams made her return to the WTA Tour at the HSBC Championships earlier this year before going on to play singles at Wimbledon.

The announcement of her partnership with Alcaraz is the first confirmation that Williams will play in New York this year, and any chance to see arguably the greatest player of all time is must-watch viewing for any tennis fan.

This will also be reigning US Open singles champion Alcaraz’s first tournament since the Barcelona Open as he’s been recovering from a wrist injury. It will be interesting to see where his game is at before going on to the singles event the following week.

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka

A 24-time Grand Slam singles champion and the two-time reigning US Open women’s singles title-winner joining forces for a one-time event is what this competition is all about.

When it comes to exciting teams in this year’s mixed doubles, it’s hard to look past Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka as one of the blockbuster duos.

This will be Sabalenka’s first time competing in the new mixed doubles format, but the world No.1 does have a history of doubles success in New York, having won the women’s doubles in 2019 – her first Grand Slam title.

Expect entertainment, outrageous shot-making and lots of character on court when these two combine.

Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten 

The WTA and ATP doubles world No.1s on the same team? Sign us up.

Czechia’s Katerina Siniakova and Britain’s Henry Patten could be one of the dream team partnerships of this year’s US Open.

Siniakova is an 11-time women’s doubles Grand Slam champion, while Patten has lifted three majors in the last three years.

The Czech star lifted the Roland Garros title earlier this year, and Patten claimed his second Wimbledon trophy last month, so when it comes to doubles stars, it’s harder to find a better team than this.

Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime

Eala-mania is at its peak heading into this year’s US Open. Eala recently became the first Filipina to reach the WTA top 20 after winning her first WTA 500 title in Washington.

One of the most-watched and loved players on the WTA Tour right now, you can guarantee the crowd and energy at any of her matches will be electric.

Meanwhile, Felix Auger-Aliassime has cemented his place inside the world’s top five this season and is coming into the US Open in arguably the best position of his career so far.

Luisa Stefani and Neal Skupski

Brazil’s Luisa Stefani and Britain’s Neal Skupski will bring a wealth of Grand Slam mixed doubles experience to the table.

They are one of only a few teams in this year’s competition to have both won mixed doubles titles in the past – Luisa at the Australian Open (2023) and Skupski at Wimbledon (2021 and 2022).

Stefani has previously teamed up with Skupski’s former partner Joe Salisbury in a run to the Wimbledon final last year, but will be teaming up with the Brit for the first time in New York.

Doubles know-how does count in this tournament, which we saw last year with Errani and Vavassori’s run to the title, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more experienced team this year.

Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils

As part of his US Open farewell this year, Frenchman Gael Monfils is joining forces with his wife and WTA singles world No.9 Elina Svitolina in the mixed doubles.

One of the greatest entertainers tennis has ever seen, Monfils’ inclusion in this year’s event promises fireworks, hot shots and more iconic moments.

When you add to that one of the best women’s players of the season so far, there’s even more reason to be excited.

Svitolina has won two WTA titles this season at the Italian Open and ASB Classic, as well as making the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe

Representing Canada and the USA, Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe could be a lethal combination in the US Open mixed doubles.

Fernandez is a former singles finalist in New York back in 2021, while Tiafoe had his best Grand Slam results at the US Open with semi-final runs in 2022 and 2024.

The Canadian might be more widely known for her singles success, but her doubles results also speak for themselves. She reached the Roland Garros women’s doubles final in 2023 and made the quarter-final of Wimbledon mixed doubles this summer.

Fernandez and Tiafoe are both fun players to watch, and if they can combine their personalities with world-class tennis on court, there’s no reason why they couldn’t be title winners come the end of the tournament.

Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool

Rounding off the British challenge this year in the mixed doubles is 2025 Wimbledon men’s doubles champion Lloyd Glasspool.

He’ll be teaming up with one of the biggest stars in women’s doubles over recent years, Erin Routliffe – a two-time US Open champion in 2023 and 2025.

Both former doubles No.1s, currently ranked inside the world’s top 15 and with lots of past Grand Slam success – these two could be dark horses in this year’s qualifying event and the wider tournament.