In a reversal of last year’s theme, four pairs of top singles players advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament on Tuesday.
The Russian duo of Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, the Czech partnership of Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, the team of Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli (who won together at Indian Wells) and the married couple of Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils moved on to Wednesday night’s final four. Meanwhile, all four teams of doubles specialists lost—three of them in the first round.
It’s a total flip from last year, when defending U.S. Open mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori stormed through the field as the only team of two doubles specialists, losing just one set in four matches. That was the first year of the revamped mixed doubles tournament scheduled prior to the main draw, featuring a shorter match format, the infusion of singles stars and a $1 million winner’s prize. The outcome indicated the strength of doubles players in their own field and called for more of them to be allowed to participate.
This year, the U.S. Open got what it initially desired with the redesigned event, which was to add another showcase for singles stars during Fan Week.
