Ten-time Grand Slam doubles champion Kateřina Siniaková didn’t hold back when addressing the revamped entry process for the 2025 US Open mixed doubles event. After finally submitting a wild card request to compete in the tournament, the Czech star offered a sharp critique of the current system.
Kateřina Siniaková’s Recent Success Highlights Her Mixed Doubles Credentials
Siniaková recently added another feather to her cap by capturing the 2025 Wimbledon mixed doubles title with partner Sem Verbeek. She’s also coming off a golden run at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she secured gold in mixed doubles to complement her 2020 Tokyo triumph in women’s doubles.
Yet despite her decorated resume, her entry into the newly reimagined US Open mixed doubles event hasn’t been a given. It highlights the challenges top-ranked doubles players face amid the tournament’s singles-focused selection process.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has overhauled the mixed doubles format this year, integrating it into Fan Week festivities on Aug. 19 and 20 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Featuring a glitzy $1 million prize pool and 16 high-profile ATP-WTA duos, the exhibition-style event is designed to drum up excitement ahead of the main draw.
Headliners include crossover crowd-pullers like Naomi Osaka/Nick Kyrgios, Emma Raducanu/Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek/Casper Ruud, Elena Rybakina/Taylor Fritz, Emma Navarro/Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic pairing up with Olga Danilović.
So far, 25 teams have entered the field. According to USTA, the top eight teams are granted direct entry based on their combined singles rankings, while the remaining eight slots will be awarded via wild cards to be announced later this month.
25 teams have officially entered the reimagined US Open Mixed Doubles Championship.
On July 28, the top 8 teams determined by combined singles ranking will be in the field via direct entry. The remaining 8 teams will be determined via wild card and announced at a later date. pic.twitter.com/22YH2zt3m4
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 21, 2025
That means even multi-time Grand Slam winners in doubles, like Siniaková and her proposed partner, World No. 1 in men’s doubles and two-time French Open men’s doubles champion Marcel Arevalo, are left waiting for a discretionary nod.
In an interview with CANAL+Sport, Siniaková shared her thoughts on the process: “When two world number ones in doubles don’t get into the tournament, there’s probably nothing more to say about it.”
🇨🇿Kateřina Siniaková nakonec také zažádala o divokou kartu do smíšené čtyřhry na US Open. Češka by měla spojit síly s🇸🇻Marcelem Arevalem, který je na vrcholu žebříčku mužské čtyřhry.
🗣„Když se dvě světové jedničky v deblu nedostanou do turnaje, tak asi není, co k tomu říct.” pic.twitter.com/drl04pbzwS
— CANAL+ Sport CZ/SK (@CANALSportCZ) July 21, 2025
LA 2028 Olympics to Mirror US Open Format With Two-Day Mixed Doubles Event
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will feature a tightly packed mixed doubles tennis event, set to unfold over just two days. The schedule, released as part of the official LA28 tennis calendar, shows all tennis events beginning on Day 5 of the Games, Jul. 19, with mixed doubles medal matches slated for the very next day.
This marks a significant shift from the 2024 Paris Olympics, where mixed doubles played out over five days.
MORE: Jimmy Connors Questions Tennis’ Future Amid US Open’s Star-Studded Mixed Doubles Reveal
