US Open Revamps Mixed Doubles Drawing Top Global Tennis Stars

NEW YORK — Tennis icons Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are headlining a revamped mixed doubles event at the U.S. Open starting Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, driven by a new schedule format and a $1 million champions prize.

Organizers at the United States Tennis Association restructured the competition by shifting it to Fan Week, the final week of August prior to the main singles draw. The strategy aims to maximize player availability and broadcast visibility.

The scheduling adjustment in 2025 transformed the traditionally overlooked event into a premier feature, generating record venue attendance of 78,000 fans and selling out the 24,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium across two consecutive nights.

"We wanted to take the US Open mixed doubles championship and give it the spotlight it deserved," said Brendan McIntyre, US Open head of communications and content. "The players also embraced it, and the star power in the field was evidence of that. There was never a doubt that we would be bringing it back for this year."

The tournament features a fast-paced format consisting of best-of-three sets to four games, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point tiebreaker in place of a full third set to accommodate players preparing for singles competition.

Alongside the team of Williams and Alcaraz, the 16-pair field includes high-profile duos such as Aryna Sabalenka alongside Novak Djokovic, and Jessica Pegula pairing with Taylor Fritz.

To support the growing profile of the event, total prize money across the entire U.S. Open tournament rose 20 percent year-over-year to $108 million.

"Our goal is to elevate our sport and to give as many fans as possible the opportunity to experience the excitement, both in person and across broadcast," said McIntyre. "We're most excited that our fans across the globe will have the opportunity to take in the action."

Matches are set to stream live on ESPN platforms, with the mixed doubles semifinals and final scheduled for Wednesday evening at Flushing Meadows, while the main singles draw begins Sunday, Aug. 30.