NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, August 27, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
The US Open mixed doubles extravaganza – spread over three days during Fan Week – featured plenty of star power, which included reigning US Open men’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz and 23-time major champion Serena Williams paired together as a super team. In a reversal of fortune, this year’s revamped event was dominated by singles stars – and a new champion was born, unseating defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori of Italy.
The two-time US Open champs were eliminated in the first round of main-draw play by Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev of Russia, 1-4, 4-1, 11-9, on Tuesday afternoon, which insured a new champion would be crowned.
In a nationally-televised final on Arthur Ashe Stadium Wednesday evening, that was broadcast in the United States on ESPN and played before an enthusiastic crowd that filled nearly all of the 23,771 seats – the largest show venue in professional tennis – the biggest mixed doubles championship in the history of the sport, in terms of prize money awarded and the magnitude of fans attending the three-day event, was won by Czechia’s Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik.
It was their first Grand Slam title of any discipline (singles, doubles, mixed doubles) – and it was the first foray into playing mixed doubles for Mensik. They defeated No. 4 seeds Belinda Bencic of Switzerland and Flavio Cobolli of Italy, 6-3, 1-6, 10-6, in one hour and 13 minutes.
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The champions received a shiny silver trophy and $1 million in prize money to share. The finalists will divide $500,000.
Raising it up! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/G8Q9Qqz5JH
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2026
In a revamped format, two teams qualified for the main draw during Monday’s multi-round qualifying draw. Then, a 16-team field played two rounds of main draw competition that was spread across Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium to narrow the field down to the final four for the semifinals and title match that was played in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Although four teams consisting of pairs of doubles specialists were spread evenly across each quarter of the draw, of the four teams remaining for the final two rounds, all of them were comprised of singles-centric stars: married couple Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Gaël Monfils of France; Bencic and Cobolli; Muchova and Mensik; and Andreeva and Rublev.
Chemistry 💯
Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils are the first pair into the mixed doubles semifinals! pic.twitter.com/haD8IMSepi
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2026
In the first semifinal, No. 4 seeds Bencic and Cobolli won 21 of the final 26 points of the match and beat Svitolina and Monfils, 4-5 (7), 4-1, 10-5, in one hour and 14 minutes. After staying close in the opening set, Bencic and Cobolli dominated the second set with their variety of returns and advanced by playing steady in the match tie-breaker. They hit 15 winners, made just six unforced errors outpointed Svitolina and Monfils 37-27.
“I think we just tried to play more brave,” said Bencic, describing what tactical changes she and Cobolli made after the opening set, during an on-court interview. “We just tried to believe [in ourselves] and to enjoy the moment. We’re so happy.”
Added Cobolli: “It was the funnest match I ever had in my life.”
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In the second semifinal, Muchova and Mensik rallied to beat Andreeva and Rublev, 5-4 (6), 3-5, 11-9, in one hour and 22 minutes. In the match tie-breaker, the Czech duo came back from down 6-3 and fought off two match points at 9-7 and 9-8. The second one was saved by a 132 mile-per-hour ace by Mensik. The Czechs scored the final four points of the semifinal. Muchova and Mensik combined to hit six aces and 14 winners, despite being outpointed 43-40 by Andreeva and Rublev.
During a brief on-court interview, Muchova indicated she felt “100 percent confident” about being at the net behind Mensik’s serve. “It’s a great feeling,” she said.
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In the title match, Muchova and Mensik jumped out to a 4-1 lead and won the opening set 6-3. Then, Bencic and Cobolli rebounded nicely in the second set and leveled the championship match at a set each by dominating it 6-1. It came down to a championship tie-breaker and Muchova and Mensik moved out to a 4-1 lead. Soon, they increased it to 6-3. Muchova and Mensik moved ahead 8-4 with a solid winner by Mensik, then gained a championship point on Muchova’s serve.
Next, Cobolli gave his team a reprieve by winning a 15-shot rally aided by a net cord. Then, Bencic hit a solid serve that Muchova struck long. Finally, Mensik won the match – and the championship – with a solid serve up the middle for an ace on championship point No. 3.
An ace for the title! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/VShvPv8GQj
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2026
It was the Czech duo’s seventh ace of the final. They finished with 18 winners and outpointed Bencic and Cobolli 57-54.
“I think at the end, really, the matching outfits made the difference for us!” Muchova said, smiling, during the trophy ceremony. “I wasn’t really expecting to be standing here tonight. We came out to have fun and enjoy the mixed doubles and now we’re standing here with a trophy. I think we did something right. I thank Jakub for carrying me through the mixed doubles event.”
Added Mensik: “It’s my first time standing here. I didn’t expect [winning the title] to happen before the tournament. It was such great fun. It was amazing to play and start the US Open like this. It’s a great preparation for all of us. I enjoyed every moment on the court.”
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Plenty of star power in matches that were quick and decisive
During this year’s three-day US Open mixed doubles event, which was held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during US Open Fan Week, the matches were quick and decisive, thanks to using a Fast Four-format with no-ad scoring. Following two rounds of qualifying Monday on the Grandstand, the first round and quarterfinals took place Tuesday on Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, the two-largest venues on the Flushing Meadows grounds.
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There were plenty of crowd favorites such as Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams of the United States, as well as defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and 25-time major champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who formed a powerful team that was seeded No. 1 and fell in the opening round to top-ranked doubles specialists Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Henry Patten of Great Britain, who came through the qualifying draw. Another popular team was comprised of Philippine superstar Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, who were eliminated in the first round by Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Gaël Monfils of France, who received a wild card into the main draw.
With a combined 30 major singles titles, the multi-generational team of Williams, 44, and Alcaraz, 23, took out doubles specialists Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and Lloyd Glasspool of England, 5-3, 4-1, after trailing 1-3 at the start of the first-round match. Later on, Williams and Alcaraz fell to No. 4 seeds Belinda Bencic of Switzerland and Flavio Cobolli of Italy in straight sets.
Perfect day at the office 🫡
Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli end the run of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz 5-4, 4-1 to reach the semifinals! pic.twitter.com/S9ymVwYOoz
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2026
While at times Williams showed her age and a sense of rustiness and Alcaraz hadn’t played a match of any kind in the last four months, at times they did shine and showed plenty of flash. Despite not advancing to Wednesday’s semifinal round, they were the stars of the show on Wednesday and drew the biggest crowds.
“I never expected to be back on this court,” Williams said. “It’s just a really cool moment. I never thought this would happen.”
“She made it really easy for me,” Alcaraz added. “I just tried to enjoy.”
SERENA WILLIAMS AND CARLOS ALCARAZ WIN ON THEIR TEAM DEBUT! 💜 pic.twitter.com/SgNgh7xd2e
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2026
Women’s doubles is next for Serena Williams
On the heels of her mixed doubles quarterfinal appearance with Carlos Alcaraz, Serena Williams and Venus Williams have been granted a wild card into the US Open women’s doubles tournament. The announcement was made by the USTA on Wednesday.
Serena, 44, and Venus, 46, were defeated in the opening round at the Cincinnati Open earlier this month. The Williams sisters have played doubles together at the US Open nine times (1997, 1999, 2000-01, 2009, 2012-14, 2022), compiling a 27-7 win-loss record and winning both the 1999 and 2009 titles.
The sister duo is BACK!
Serena and Venus Williams have received a wild card into the 2026 US Open Women’s Doubles Championship. pic.twitter.com/YD9traRQ8d
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2026
By the numbers
The total purse for the US Open mixed doubles tournament was $5.06 million. Each team reaching the main draw was guaranteed $40,000, with $120,000 going to all quarterfinalists, $250,000 for all semifinalists, $500,000 to the runners-up and $1 million for the winning duo.
“Quotable …”
“I think everybody could see; I double faulted the first point. I was out for four months and a half, almost five months. I almost forget how it feels, stepping on the court once again.”
– Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, during his on-court interview following his first-round mixed doubles victory along with Serena Williams on Tuesday.
