As the tennis world gears up for the 2025 US Open, a new spotlight shines on the revamped mixed doubles event, set to electrify Flushing Meadows during Fan Week on August 19-20. Among the star-studded pairings, none have generated more buzz than the dynamic duo of Nick Kyrgios and Naomi Osaka, two of tennis’s most charismatic and polarizing figures. The Australian maverick, sidelined by injuries for much of the past two years, is brimming with confidence about their chances. “As a Grand Slam doubles champion, it certainly doesn’t carry the same weight as a singles Grand Slam winner, but with all these amazing pairings, I think it’s a huge innovation for all of us,” Kyrgios told TNT Sports. “As for my partner, Naomi Osaka, I think we can do great things.”
The US Open’s reimagined mixed doubles tournament, featuring 16 teams—eight selected by combined singles rankings and eight via wildcards—has drawn top singles stars with its condensed format and a hefty $1 million prize for the champions. Matches, played over two action-packed days, follow a best-of-three-sets structure with sets to four games, no-advantage scoring, tiebreakers at 4-4, and a 10-point match tiebreaker in lieu of a third set. The final extends to six games but retains the fast-paced rules. “Seeing the teams that have already put their names on the entry list makes us all incredibly excited,” said Lew Sherr, US Tennis Association CEO, emphasizing the event’s appeal to players and fans alike. Kyrgios and Osaka, ranked 633rd and 57th in doubles respectively, are likely to secure a wildcard, given their star power and the tournament’s aim to boost viewership.
Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist and 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles champion, has played sparingly since 2023, managing only six singles and three doubles matches due to wrist and knee surgeries. Yet, his flair and unpredictability make him a fan favorite, and his off-court ventures—commentating for ESPN and Eurosport, and co-hosting the podcast “Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios,” produced by Osaka’s Hana Kuma—have kept him in the spotlight. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion and two-time US Open winner (2018, 2020), has been rebuilding her form since returning from maternity leave. Her gritty 2025 season, highlighted by a near-upset of Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros and a second-round Wimbledon run, shows she’s regaining her hard-court prowess. “I’ve always related to Kyrgios in a weird way,” Osaka said after her Wimbledon win over Talia Gibson, where Kyrgios surprised her by appearing in her player box. “I hope in some way maybe he felt… I wouldn’t be bold enough to say ‘inspired’, but I hope he could relate a little bit to the things I do, too.”
Their partnership extends beyond the court. Friends since practicing together in 2022, they share a bond rooted in mutual respect and shared experiences as outspoken figures in a sport often marked by restraint. “I’ve always thought to myself, ‘That’s like my brother from a different universe,’” Osaka said on Kyrgios’s podcast, noting their connection as “melanated folks” in tennis. Their chemistry was evident during a 2024 US Open Mixed Madness exhibition, where they donned Kobe Bryant jerseys and entertained a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, despite losing to Taylor Fritz and Amanda Anisimova. “I think it should be fun,” Osaka said of their upcoming partnership, recalling Fritz’s intensity in the exhibition. “I feel like for me, I have always felt like I’ve always related to him.”
The event, however, has stirred controversy. Doubles specialists like Australia’s Ellen Perez have criticized the format, calling it a “pseudo-exhibition” that sidelines traditional doubles players. “Tell us that you think doubles players are trash, that tradition is overrated and job opportunity is a thing of the past,” Perez posted online. Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori echoed her sentiments, labeling the changes a “profound injustice.” Despite the backlash, the star-heavy field—including Carlos Alcaraz with Emma Raducanu, Jannik Sinner with Emma Navarro, and Iga Swiatek with Casper Ruud—promises a spectacle. Kyrgios, undeterred, sees it as a game-changer: “In what other sport in the world can you see your favorite female athlete team up with your favorite male athlete and compete for Grand Slam prizes and a trophy?”
As Kyrgios and Osaka prepare to take on Flushing Meadows, their electric personalities and undeniable talent make them a must-watch. Whether they can translate their off-court synergy into on-court magic remains to be seen, but Kyrgios’s confidence and Osaka’s resilience set the stage for a thrilling debut. With the tennis world watching, this unconventional duo is poised to shake up the US Open and prove they can indeed achieve “big things.”
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