The US Open mixed doubles draw has been released, and the blockbuster pairing of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz could face a very tough test in their first match together. The Spaniard is returning from a four-month injury layoff, while the 23-time Major champion came out of retirement in June, almost four years after hanging up her racket for the first time. With 30 Grand Slam singles titles between them, all eyes will be on Williams and Alcaraz in the revamped mixed doubles tournament this week.
Qualifying Draw Packed with Doubles Specialists
The American-Spanish duo have drawn qualifiers in the first round, which may look like a forgiving draw, but is the last thing they’ll want. The eight-team qualifying draw is made up almost entirely of doubles specialists, including world No. 1s Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, and doubles Grand Slam champions Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool.
Of the eight pairs battling it out in qualies, seven include doubles specialists. In six of the teams, both players are in the top 15 of the ATP and WTA rankings right now. ATP No. 12, Christian Harrison, who won the Aussie Open men’s doubles title in January, has paired up with Peyton Stearns, the world No. 53 in singles.
The wildcard pair of Tatjana Maria and Valentin Vacherot are the only team comprising two singles specialists. Qualifying takes place on Monday, with two teams winning a spot in the main draw. If Williams and Alcaraz draw one of the doubles powerhouse duos, they could be out in the first round – especially given that the qualifiers will already have two matches under their belt.
Top Seeds and Other Key Matchups
The main draw is full of exciting link-ups between singles players, and multi-Grand Slam champions Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic are the top seeds. They open against the wildcard duo of Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe. For Djokovic, this will be his first match of any kind since he threw up during a three-set opening round defeat at the recent Cincinnati Open. Tiafoe, meanwhile, is on form after finishing runner-up in Cincinnati, losing to Arthur Fils in the final.
No. 2 seeds Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz – who had to pair up together when their initial partners, Jack Draper and Elena Rybakina, could no longer play – start their campaign against the wildcard duo of Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud. They also had to repair when Shnaider’s first partner, Daniil Medvedev, pulled out to enter the ATP 250 event in Winston-Salem this week. Ruud was set to reunite with Iga Swiatek after their runner-up finish last year, but the Pole withdrew.
Other First-Round Clashes
There will be an all-American clash between No. 3 seeds Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien, and wildcards Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul. Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, the fourth seeds, face wildcards Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev. Townsend is the world No. 2 in doubles and a three-time doubles Grand Slam champion.
Power couple Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, who got a wildcard into the main draw, take on Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime. And Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik will face qualifiers, like Williams and Alcaraz.
