The US Open mixed doubles event has seen a major last-minute change, with Jack Draper and Elena Rybakina withdrawing from the tournament. Their exits left Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz without partners, but the Americans decided to team up instead.
Elena Rybakina’s US Open Exit Gives Taylor Fritz Unexpected Reunion With Jessica Pegula
On Saturday, the US Open announced its six mixed doubles wild cards. The late reshuffle ended Fritz’s expected reunion with Rybakina.
The duo had won the Indian Wells mixed doubles exhibition twice and complemented each other’s powerful games, with Rybakina praising Fritz’s “huge shots and serve” and Fritz saying her serve “makes my life really easy.” Fritz had also said he would play mixed doubles more often if it did not clash with his singles schedule.
In last year’s US Open mixed doubles, Rybakina and Fritz lost in the opening round to eventual champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. However, the pair has won the Indian Wells mixed doubles exhibition, the Eisenhower Cup, two years in a row, beating debutants Learner Tien and Amanda Anisimova 10-7 in this year’s final.
Pegula was also left without a partner after Draper withdrew with an injury. Fritz will now team up with his fellow American and longtime friend as they look to make a strong run together. They have previously teamed up at the United Cup, representing Team USA.
On Friday, Rybakina’s Cincinnati Open run ended abruptly after she retired from her quarterfinal against the defending champion Iga Świątek. The world No. 2 was trailing 4-1 in the opening set when she injured her left ankle, took a medical timeout, and walked out after trying just one more serve.
The Kazakh also missed a big chance to become world No. 1. With Aryna Sabalenka already out, Rybakina needed two more wins to take the top spot. Sabalenka still leads Rybakina by 434 points, 8,575 to 8,141. Rybakina will undergo an MRI to assess the injury, but if she is fit for the US Open, she could get another chance to move to No. 1.
MORE: Taylor Fritz Spotted Crushed After Cincinnati Quarterfinal Loss Ahead of US Open
Besides Fritz and Pegula, the mixed doubles field features several star-studded teams, including Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, and defending champions Świątek and Casper Ruud.
The second edition of the Mixed Doubles Championship runs from August 24 to 26, ahead of the main US Open competitions, which run from August 30 to September 13.
