As the 2025 US Open approaches, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is generating buzz with her enthusiasm for the tournament’s reimagined mixed doubles championship, set to take place during Fan Week on August 19-20 at Flushing Meadows. The world No. 11, partnering with American star Taylor Fritz, is eager to test her skills against top ATP players in a star-studded field that includes Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic. Rybakina’s comments after her quarterfinal run at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., reveal a competitive fire and a hunger to measure her game against the men’s elite. “I mean… depends,” she said with a laugh when asked about her dream opponents. “I think Sinner, Alcaraz definitely. To see how they hit and feel how the ball is coming. But it’s not easy with each player there.” With a $1 million prize pool and a new format designed to spotlight tennis’ biggest names, Rybakina’s participation promises to electrify the courts at Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums.
The US Open’s mixed doubles event has undergone a dramatic overhaul for 2025, moving from the third week to the qualifying week to attract top singles players. The 16-team field, featuring best-of-three-set matches with no-ad scoring and a 10-point super-tiebreak in lieu of a third set, includes high-profile pairings like Sinner with Emma Navarro, Alcaraz with Emma Raducanu, and Djokovic with Olga Danilovic. Rybakina and Fritz, who won the Indian Wells mixed doubles exhibition in March, are among the top contenders, with Fritz boldly claiming, “We’re one of the teams to beat.” Their prior success, combined with Rybakina’s powerful serve—capable of reaching 127 mph—and Fritz’s doubles prowess, makes them a formidable duo. “I think my record in mixed doubles kind of speaks for itself,” Fritz said at Wimbledon, citing his unbeaten United Cup run and Indian Wells triumphs with Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka.
Rybakina’s excitement for the event stems from its timing before the singles draw, offering a high-energy tune-up for the Grand Slam. “He has such a good game that I think it would be nice to play at the US Open,” she said of Fritz. “And especially now it’s a little bit changed, it’s before singles starts, so I feel like it’s also good preparation for the singles.” Her doubles experience, though limited, includes a 2021 French Open quarterfinal run with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and a recent Citi Open quarterfinal alongside Raducanu, where they defeated fourth seeds Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls. These outings highlight Rybakina’s ability to finish points at the net, a skill she’s eager to showcase against ATP heavyweights like Sinner and Alcaraz, whose aggressive styles she’s keen to experience up close.
The revamped format has sparked debate, with defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori initially calling it a “profound injustice” for sidelining doubles specialists. However, their inclusion in the 16-team entry list, alongside stars like Iga Swiatek with Casper Ruud and Naomi Osaka with Nick Kyrgios, reflects the USTA’s aim to blend tradition with spectacle. “Seeing the teams that have already put their names on the entry list makes us all incredibly excited,” said USTA chief executive Lew Sherr. “It shows that the players are behind what we are trying to do, and we know that the fans will love it.” The event’s $1 million prize pool, a significant jump from last year’s $200,000, underscores its elevated status, with matches set to air on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
Rybakina’s 2025 season has been marred by injuries, including a back issue that forced her US Open withdrawal after a first-round win and a bronchitis diagnosis that sidelined her for the Paris Olympics. Despite these setbacks, she showed resilience at the Citi Open, defeating Victoria Mboko to reach the quarterfinals. Her coaching situation remains fluid after parting with Goran Ivanisevic post-Australian Open and rehiring Stefano Vukov, who faces a 12-month WTA ban. “Unlike people that are making these comments, he has great knowledge about me as a player and an athlete,” Rybakina said in defense of Vukov last year. As she prepares for New York, where her best singles result is a third-round appearance, the mixed doubles event offers a chance to build momentum and chase a Grand Slam title. With Fritz by her side and a field packed with tennis royalty, Rybakina’s bold ambition to face Sinner and Alcaraz signals a thrilling showdown that could redefine her US Open legacy.
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