US Open 2026 mixed doubles prize money, teams and format – including Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz
The high-profile mixed doubles event at the US Open begins on Tuesday with several star pairings set to take to the courts at Flushing Meadows.
It was confirmed on Saturday that Serena Williams, who returned to tennis in June, will team up with defending men’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz in New York.
World No 1 women’s player Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic are the top seeds, with the all-American pairing of Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz the second seeds.
There will also be a qualifying event, made up predominantly of specialist doubles players, before the main draw starts on Tuesday. The defending champions are the Italian doubles pairing of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.
Here’s everything you need to know for the US Open mixed doubles event.
When is it?
The main draw starts on Tuesday 25 August with the first round and quarter-finals. Play starts at 4pm BST (11am local) on Arthur Ashe Stadium and 3pm BST (10am local) on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The semi-finals and final will headline a special night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday 26 August, starting at midnight BST (7pm local).
What is the draw?
First round
Katerina Siniakova/Henry Patten bt. Aryna Sabalenka/Novak Djokovic [1] 1-4, 4-2, 2-10
Elina Svitolina/Gael Monfils bt. Alexandra Eala/Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-1, 4-1
Belinda Bencic/Flavio Cobolli [4] bt. Taylor Townsend/Alexander Zverev 4-2, 4-2
Serena Williams/Carlos Alcaraz vs Erin Routliffe/Lloyd Glasspool
Karolina Muchova/Jakub Mensik bt. Kristina Mladenovic/Marcelo Arevalo 4-1, 2-4, 10-7
Emma Navarro/Tommy Paul bt. Amanda Anisimova/Learner Tien [3] 5-3, 4-2
Mirra Andreeva/Andrey Rublev bt. Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori 1-4, 4-1, 11-9
Diana Shnaider/Casper Ruud vs Jessica Pegula/Taylor Fritz [2]
Quarter-finals
Svitolina/Monfils bt Siniakova/Patten 5-4, 4-5, 10-8
Bencic/Cobolli [4] vs TBC
Muchova/Mensik bt. Navarro/Paul 4-1, 5-3
Andreeva/Rublev vs TBC
Semi-finals
Svitolina/Monfils vs TBC
Muchova/Mensik vs TBC
What is the format?
For every match up to the final, matches will be best-of-3 sets, with sets to four games and a 10-point tie-break instead of a third set.
For the final, it will be a traditional set to six games and a 10-point tie-break instead of a third set.
All matches will have sudden death deuce.
Prize money
Round 1 (qualifying) – $10,000
Round 2 (qualifying) – $20,000
Round 1 (main draw) – $40,000
Quarter-finals – $120,000
Semi-finals – $250,000
Finalist – £500,000
Winner – $1,000,000
Where can I watch it?
Matches in the United Kingdom will be broadcast on Sky Sports Tennis.
In the United States, ESPN2 will present live coverage, with the final on ESPN and ESPN+.
