Venus Williams gets wild card, Emma Raducanu-Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper-Paula Badosa pairings confirmed as US Open mixed doubles teams locked in
By Leon Imber
Updated 30/07/2025 at 12:33 GMT+1
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The teams for this year's revamped US Open mixed doubles event are locked in - bar two that are yet to be decided - and there have been some alterations to the initial entries. Notably, Jack Draper is set to team up with Paula Badosa, rather than Zheng Qinwen, while the participation of Venus Williams has been confirmed by the organisers after she received a wild card to compete at the age of 45.
Kyrgios: I missed tournaments because of gaming
Video credit: SNTV
Venus Williams' remarkable tennis return is set to continue after she received a wild card to compete at this year's new-look US Open mixed doubles event.
Williams, 45, took to the court for the first time in over a year at last week's Citi Open, held in Washington, recording first-round victories in both singles and doubles before exiting the tournament.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion won 16 of her major titles in doubles events, and will team up with Reilly Opelka at Flushing Meadows as the sport's biggest names go head-to-head in the new-look format for the $1 million prize.
US Open organisers announced 14 of the 16 teams taking part in the mixed doubles, taking place between August 19-20, ahead of the commencement of the main draw on August 24.
Eight teams entered the tournament via direct entry through the pair's respective singles ranking. That saw the pairing of Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro secure their spot, while British No. 1 Jack Draper also qualified directly, though with a different partner to what was originally slated.
The 23-year-old was listed among the initial entries in a pair with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, but will now compete alongside world No. 10 Paula Badosa, who was originally slated to be paired with Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, were handed wild cards to the event, and enter with the partners listed on their initial entries, Olga Danilovic and Emma Raducanu respectively.
Williams and Opelka are one of three all-American pairs to have been handed a wild card. Ben Shelton and Taylor Townsend received one, while Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe are also set to enter the tournament.
Among the notable absentees are Nick Kyrgios and Naomi Osaka, who were listed on the initial entries, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka's participation has not been announced, despite being on the initial list alongside Grigor Dimitrov.
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Home favourite Coco Gauff, meanwhile, was neither on the list of entries nor the confirmed list of teams.
Holger Rune, who was not on the list of entries published in June, has received direct entry alongside Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova.
Reigning US Open mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who had previously been critical of the tournament's new format, have been given a wild card as they look to defend their title.
The final two teams for the event in New York are still to be announced.
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Venus Williams becomes the oldest player to win a WTA tour-level singles match since 2004
Video credit: SNTV
List of teams
Via direct entry
- Emma Navarro and Jannik Sinner
- Paula Badosa and Jack Draper
- Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud
- Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz
- Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune
- Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev
- Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul
- Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev
Via wild card
- Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe
- Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic
- Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz
- Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton
- Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka
- Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori
- TBC
- TBC
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