The 2025 US Open mixed doubles tournament, set to dazzle fans with a star-studded lineup during the qualifying week of August 19-20, is facing a wave of uncertainty as high-profile withdrawals cast a shadow over the event. Initially announced with a roster boasting tennis titans like Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic, the revamped championship has already lost several key pairings, raising questions about whether more top players, including Alcaraz, Raducanu, and Sinner, might follow suit. With a $1 million prize for the winning team and a format designed to showcase the sport’s biggest names, the event promised to be a blockbuster, but scheduling conflicts and physical demands are threatening its star power.
The US Open’s bold decision to move mixed doubles to a two-day standalone event before the main tournament, featuring short four-game sets and a 10-point tiebreak instead of a third set, was meant to attract singles stars who rarely play doubles. The initial entry list, released in June, delivered on that promise, with pairings like Alcaraz and Raducanu, Sinner and Emma Navarro, and Djokovic with Olga Danilovic generating buzz. “She’s going to be the boss,” Alcaraz said with a laugh about Raducanu, revealing he approached her through their agents to form their partnership. “I know Emma since a really long time ago, so we know each other. I have really good relationship with her,” he added, highlighting the genuine connection forged during their breakout 2021 US Open runs. Similarly, Sinner’s pairing with Navarro, the highest-ranked team based on combined singles rankings, was a focal point, while Djokovic’s collaboration with fellow Serbian Danilovic added intrigue.
However, the event’s proximity to the Cincinnati Open, with its men’s and women’s singles finals scheduled for August 18, has created a logistical nightmare. Players reaching those finals would need to rush to New York for mixed doubles matches the next day, leaving little recovery time before the US Open singles begin on August 24. This scheduling clash has already led to notable withdrawals, including Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa, whose split as a couple coincided with their exit from the event, and Zheng Qinwen and Jack Draper, with Zheng sidelined by elbow surgery. “I’m a bit divided on the issue of the mixed doubles at the US Open; I understand both sides,” said Wimbledon doubles champion Julian Cash, acknowledging the event’s appeal but lamenting the loss of opportunities for doubles specialists. “For us, doubles players, it’s a real shame, no doubt.”
The withdrawals reflect broader challenges in the tennis calendar, with top players like Alcaraz, Sinner, and Aryna Sabalenka also pulling out of the Canadian Open to prioritize recovery after a grueling clay and grass season. Alcaraz, who cited “physical and mental exhaustion” after his Wimbledon final loss to Sinner, has left his participation in both Canada and Cincinnati uncertain, with his agent stating, “In reality, he is evaluating whether to return to Toronto, we have not decided yet.” Sinner, the world No. 1, and Djokovic, focusing on the US Open after a Wimbledon semifinal run, are also prioritizing their singles campaigns. Raducanu, meanwhile, has battled back spasms this season, adding to concerns about her ability to juggle singles and doubles.
The new format has sparked controversy, with doubles world No. 1 Katerina Siniakova criticizing the entry process that prioritizes singles rankings, leaving her and partner Marcelo Arevalo reliant on a wildcard. “When two world number ones in doubles don’t get into the tournament, there’s probably nothing more to say about it,” Siniakova said, highlighting the frustration among doubles specialists. Andy Roddick, however, praised the format’s potential to boost doubles’ visibility, calling the entry list “a 12/10” for its star power, though he admitted it’s “taking jobs away from doubles players who kind of run this side tour.”
With only 16 of the 25 entered teams set to compete—eight via direct entry based on rankings and eight via wildcards—the final lineup remains in flux. Alcaraz and Raducanu, whose combined ranking places them outside the top eight, are likely banking on a wildcard, as are Djokovic and Danilovic. Sinner and Navarro, with the highest combined ranking, seem more secure, but their participation hinges on their Cincinnati schedules. “I think Sinner, Alcaraz definitely,” said Elena Rybakina when asked about dream opponents, reflecting the excitement around these pairings, though she too faces the same scheduling pressures with partner Taylor Fritz.
As the US Open approaches, fans are left wondering if the promised spectacle will materialize. The withdrawals highlight the delicate balance top players must strike between ambition and preservation, with the grueling tennis calendar pushing even the biggest stars to make tough choices. Whether Alcaraz, Raducanu, and Sinner will take the court remains uncertain, but their potential absence would dim the event’s luster, leaving organizers and fans hoping for a last-minute commitment from these tennis giants.
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