Mixed doubles is the black sheep of the US Open. Honestly, it’s a mess. While the singles stars are worrying about ice baths and $3 million checks, the mixed doubles draw is basically a high-stakes pickup game at a local club, just with better forehands. It’s the only place at Flushing Meadows where you’ll see a legendary doubles specialist paired with a teenager who just lost their singles qualifier, both of them trying to figure out each other’s names during the first changeover.
The US Open mixed doubles draw isn't just a bracket; it’s a social experiment. Unlike the Australian Open or Wimbledon, the vibe in New York is frantic. The humidity is crushing. The schedule is a nightmare. Because the prize money is significantly lower than singles—we’re talking roughly $200,000 for the winning team to split versus millions for a singles winner—the motivation is different. It’s about pride, sure, but it’s also about players just wanting to stay on the court and keep their rhythm.
The Brutal Reality of the US Open Mixed Doubles Draw
People think these pairings are planned months in advance. Wrong. Most of the time, the US Open mixed doubles draw is finalized through frantic text messages sent twenty minutes before the deadline. You’ve got players like Desirae Krawczyk or Joe Salisbury—the elite specialists—who have their partners set. But for the rest? It’s a scramble.
The draw consists of 32 teams. No qualifying rounds. No second chances. You lose, you’re out, and you’re probably headed to JFK by dinner. The format is also a total heart-attack inducer: two sets, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a third set. This means a couple of lucky net cords can take out the number one seeds in about 45 minutes.
It’s fast. It’s loud. It’s deeply unpredictable.
How the Seeds Actually Work
Usually, the seeding is determined by the combined ranking of the two players. If you have two top-10 doubles players pairing up, they’re going to be at the top of the bracket. But here’s the kicker: singles players can use their singles ranking to get in if it's high enough. This creates these "super teams" that look terrifying on paper but often flame out because they don’t understand the nuances of the "I-formation" or how to properly poach at the net.
Remember when Ben Shelton and Taylor Townsend teamed up? That was pure electricity. They didn't win the whole thing, losing in the 2023 final to Anna Danilina and Harri Heliövaara, but they proved that the New York crowd cares more about personality than technical doubles proficiency. The Danilina/Heliövaara win was a classic example of "Who?" beating "Them." Harri and Anna had literally never spoken before signing up together on a whim at the referee’s office. They ended up winning a Grand Slam. That is the magic—and the absolute absurdity—of this specific draw.
Why Nobody Can Predict This Bracket
Tennis betting experts hate this draw. You can't analyze it. If you look at the 2024 results, you saw Italian pair Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori take the title. They were seeds, sure, but they had to fight through a field that included wildcards who were playing like their lives depended on it.
One major factor is the "Singles Hangover." If a player in the mixed draw is still alive in the singles semifinals, they are almost certainly going to tank the mixed match or withdraw. Their priority is the big trophy. This leads to walkovers and "lucky losers" getting deep into the tournament. It makes the US Open mixed doubles draw feel like a moving target.
Then there’s the crowd. Court 17 or the Grandstand during a mixed match is a different beast. It’s intimate. It’s rowdy. The fans are closer to the players, and the players are often more relaxed, cracking jokes with the front row. It’s the only time you see the "serious" side of professional tennis drop its guard.
The Power Dynamic Shift
In mixed doubles, the strategy is usually "hit it at the woman." It sounds harsh. It’s the tactical reality. However, at the US Open level, the women are often better volleyers than the men. Watching a specialist like Hsieh Su-wei embarrass a 140-mph-serving male player with a feathered drop volley is the peak of the sport. The draw often rewards these "crafty" players over the "power" players.
- Speed of play: Matches are over in a blink.
- The 10-point tiebreak: It’s a coin flip. Even the best teams struggle with the pressure of a "super tiebreak" where one mini-break determines a season.
- Late starts: Mixed matches often get pushed to 9:00 PM or later on the outside courts because singles matches run long. The players are tired, the balls are heavy, and the atmosphere is weird.
Following the Draw in Real-Time
If you’re trying to track the bracket, you need to look at the official USTA site, but don’t trust it until an hour before match time. Withdrawals are constant. The "order of play" is a suggestion, not a rule.
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Look for the dark horses. Usually, these are teams consisting of two specialist doubles players from countries with strong tennis traditions like Australia or the Czech Republic. They grew up playing doubles. They know where to stand. They don't get distracted by the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 2025 and 2026 seasons have shown a surge in interest here because of the Olympic carry-over. Players are realizing that mixed doubles is a viable path to a gold medal, so the quality of the US Open field has actually improved. You’re seeing more top-30 singles players enter the fray, which makes the draw even more volatile.
Actionable Steps for Tennis Fans
If you actually want to enjoy the mixed doubles draw without losing your mind, stop looking at it like a standard tournament.
- Check the "Alternates" list. Some of the most fun matches involve teams that didn't even know they were playing until three hours before the match.
- Watch the early rounds on the outer courts. Court 5 or 6 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center offers a view of the mixed doubles draw that TV cameras usually miss. You can hear the tactical bickering between partners.
- Ignore the rankings. A world-class singles player is often a liability in mixed doubles because they don't know how to move in tandem. Look for the teams that have played at least two tournaments together earlier in the year.
- Follow the specialized press. Outlets like Tennis.com or The Athletic usually have a writer dedicated to the "grounds" who will tweet out when a high-profile mixed match is getting spicy.
The US Open mixed doubles draw is the ultimate "expect the unexpected" sporting event. It’s chaotic, it’s often overlooked, but for one week in late summer, it provides the most entertaining, fast-paced tennis on the planet. Just don’t bet your house on the favorites. They’re probably just as surprised to be there as you are to see them.