US Open 2026 mixed doubles prize money, teams and format – including Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz

The high-profile mixed doubles event at the US Open is underway with several star pairings in action at Flushing Meadows.

Serena Williams, who returned to tennis in June, partnered up with defending men’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz in New York – but the high-profile duo proved no match for Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals.

World No 1 women’s player Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic were the top seeds but lost in the first round, with the all-American pairing of Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz the second seeds.

The Italian doubles pairing of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori were the defending champions, but also made an early exit.

Here’s everything you need to know for the US Open mixed doubles event.

When is it?

The main draw starts on Tuesday 25 August with the first round and quarter-finals. Play starts at 4pm BST (11am local) on Arthur Ashe Stadium and 3pm BST (10am local) on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The semi-finals and final will headline a special night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday 26 August, starting at midnight BST (7pm local).

What is the draw?

First round

Katerina Siniakova/Henry Patten bt. Aryna Sabalenka/Novak Djokovic [1] 1-4, 4-2, 2-10

Elina Svitolina/Gael Monfils bt. Alexandra Eala/Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-1, 4-1

Belinda Bencic/Flavio Cobolli [4] bt. Taylor Townsend/Alexander Zverev 4-2, 4-2

Serena Williams/Carlos Alcaraz bt. Erin Routliffe/Lloyd Glasspool 5-3, 4-1

Karolina Muchova/Jakub Mensik bt. Kristina Mladenovic/Marcelo Arevalo 4-1, 2-4, 10-7

Emma Navarro/Tommy Paul bt. Amanda Anisimova/Learner Tien [3] 5-3, 4-2

Mirra Andreeva/Andrey Rublev bt. Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori 1-4, 4-1, 11-9

Diana Shnaider/Casper Ruud bt. Jessica Pegula/Taylor Fritz [2] 4-2, 4-1

Quarter-finals

Svitolina/Monfils bt Siniakova/Patten 5-4, 4-5, 10-8

Bencic/Cobolli [4] bt. Williams/Alcaraz 5-4, 4-1

Muchova/Mensik bt. Navarro/Paul 4-1, 5-3

Andreeva/Rublev vs Shnaider/Ruud

Semi-finals

Svitolina/Monfils vs Bencic/Cobolli [4]

Muchova/Mensik vs TBC

What is the format?

For every match up to the final, matches will be best-of-3 sets, with sets to four games and a 10-point tie-break instead of a third set.

For the final, it will be a traditional set to six games and a 10-point tie-break instead of a third set.

All matches will have sudden death deuce.

Prize money

Round 1 (qualifying) – $10,000

Round 2 (qualifying) – $20,000

Round 1 (main draw) – $40,000

Quarter-finals – $120,000

Semi-finals – $250,000

Finalist – £500,000

Winner – $1,000,000

Where can I watch it?

Matches in the United Kingdom will be broadcast on Sky Sports Tennis.

In the United States, ESPN2 will present live coverage, with the final on ESPN and ESPN+.