US OPEN MIXED DOUBLES SELECTION SPARKS DEBATE AMONG TOP PLAYERS

The US Open has released its entry list for the 2026 mixed doubles tournament, prompting criticism from several top singles players over the selection criteria. Maria Sakkari, ranked World No. 33, and Karen Khachanov, ranked World No. 26, publicly mocked their omissions from the field on Instagram. Sakkari wrote that it appeared "we didn't make the cut", to which Khachanov replied: "Looks like we need to be top 10 to play there." The objections highlight inconsistencies in the tournament's selection process, as players ranked below Sakkari and Khachanov received spots in the draw.

The entry list features world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka paired with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, alongside other high-profile pairings including Iga Świątek with Casper Ruud and Jessica Pegula with Jack Draper. However, men's world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are not yet on the entry list, though Alcaraz entered the singles event whilst recovering from a wrist injury. Notably, Kei Nishikori, currently ranked No. 721, received a place alongside Naomi Osaka, whilst Leylah Fernandez, ranked No. 34, secured a spot with Frances Tiafoe. The US Open revamped the mixed doubles format last year by opening the field to top-ranked singles players, a move that drew sell-out crowds but raised concerns among doubles specialists about their representation.

The tournament will feature six teams with the best combined singles rankings qualifying automatically after entries close on 17 August, with eight wild card places and two spots decided through qualifying. The final will use traditional six-game sets, whilst earlier matches follow a shortened format. Last year's inaugural event attracted approximately 78,000 fans, with champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori sharing a $1 million prize.