The 2025 US Open is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about events in tennis, thanks to a newly reimagined mixed doubles format that pairs big-name singles stars with elite doubles players for a two-day showdown. Among the headlines is a star-studded pairing of Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz, who will compete together as wild cards and open their campaign against Britain’s Jack Draper and the United States’ Jessica Pegula. The match is scheduled for the opening round around 7pm UK time on Tuesday, August 19, with Sky Sports providing live coverage.
Beyond the mixed doubles spectacle, Sky Sports will carry comprehensive coverage of the 2025 US Open singles tournaments, running from August 24 to September 7.
What’s new for the mixed doubles event?
The event will be staged over two days, Tuesday, August 19 and Wednesday, August 20, with a new format designed to spotlight doubles in a more viewer-friendly way. Play on the first day starts at 4pm UK time (day session), and the tournament concludes the following night in a session that begins late, shifting the second day to a 12am UK start on Thursday, August 21 due to the late-night finish.
There are 16 teams in the draw: the top eight by combined singles rankings and eight wild cards. For example, if Player A is world No. 21 and Player B is No. 7, their combined ranking would be 28. Other notable entries include Draper pairing again with Pegula as the top seeds, Raducanu and Alcaraz as wild cards, Novak Djokovic with Olga Danilovic as wild cards, and Venus Williams partnering with Reilly Opelka. The 2024 mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori will also compete as wild cards. Jannik Sinner initially planned to partner with Katerina Siniakova but withdrew; Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison have come in to re-pair in their place.
Format and scoring changes
The mixed doubles matches are best-of-three sets with innovative scoring:
– Sets are played to a maximum of four games, with a is-no-ad rule at deuce (the next point wins the game).
– If teams split the first two sets, a 10-point match tiebreak decides the match.
– The final is also best-of-three sets, but each set can go to a maximum of six games, still with no-ad scoring, and with a 10-point tiebreak to decide the match if the sets are split. A tiebreak is also used if teams reach the brink of a set in games.
Prize money
– Winner: $1,000,000
– Runner-up: $400,000
– Semi-finalists: $200,000
– Quarter-finalists: $100,000
– Round of 16: $20,000
What’s the draw looking like?
The top half features a blockbuster opener with Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper facing Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz. Also in the mix are Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic against Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev, and Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud taking on Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe. Naomi Osaka and Gael Monfils face Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti. The bottom half includes Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison taking on Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev, Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton vs Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune, Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka against Karolína Muchová and Andrey Rublev, and Sara Errani with Andrea Vavassori against Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz.
How to watch
Sky Sports will show the US Open and the new mixed doubles format in full, with live coverage on Sky Sports Tennis and streaming via Sky Sports+ for eligible customers. Channel numbers vary by platform, and fans can also stream through NOW Sports if they have a suitable membership. In addition to live matches, Sky Sports will provide daily live text commentary, live scores, reports, analysis, features, and videos across its platforms.
Expert perspective
Sky Sports’ commentary team and analysts emphasize that the new two-day, high-stakes format, plus a $1 million prize for the winners, aims to attract a broader audience, including viewers who aren’t typical doubles fans. The pairing of top singles stars with doubles specialists is presented as a strong selling point for generating excitement and dialogue around the sport.
Why this matters
The fresh approach gives doubles a higher profile and creates intriguing on-court matchups, with Raducanu and Alcaraz’s partnership illustrating how cross-over collaborations can boost interest across the sport. It also helps engage fans during the late summer circuit as players juggle singles and doubles in a concentrated time frame.
Summary
The 2025 US Open’s revamped mixed doubles event combines star power with a bold new format over two days, featuring a rich lineup of players and a substantial prize purse. With extensive Sky Sports coverage and a carefully structured draw, the event aims to deliver fast-paced, high-stakes tennis that appeals to both traditional fans and newcomers alike. It’s a strategic reinvention that could reshape how fans experience doubles at the year’s final Grand Slam.
Optional hopeful note
This bold format could spark renewed interest in doubles play more broadly, encouraging young players to pursue doubles careers and drawing new audiences to the sport as a whole.