"It seems you need to be in the top 10 to participate" - Maria Sakkari and Karen Khachanov lament peculiar rejection from US Open mixed doubles
WTATuesday, 28 July 2026 at 13:00
A displeased Maria Sakkari and Karen Khachanov will not be competing in the US Open mixed doubles tournament ahead of the singles event at Flushing Meadows. Despite being told their rankings would be good enough to enter, this was not the case as they reacted to the snub.
The mixed doubles event was revamped last year in a move that brought forward a lot of criticism and perplexed looks. Shunning out the regular doubles players who normally battle for glory, this version focused on bringing singles players over to compete.
In turn, a lot more attention has been brought to it with some of the best and most recognisable tennis players in the world taking centre stage.
Last year, it was reigning champions and double regulars Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori who took down Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud to take the title and go back-to-back in New York. This year's tournament follows the same pattern, being played in Fan Week which is hosted a week before the actual tournament gets underway.
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Sakkari and Khachanov fume over mixed doubles rejection
16 teams will take to court, neither of them will boast Sakkari or Khachanov who had hoped to be teaming up for the tournament.
Seemingly on ranking, their chances looked good, ranked 33rd and 26th respectively, this totalled their overall ranking at 59. This was the method supposedly chosen by the organisers to pick the draw and who is allowed to compete.
The teams were released yesterday, and the duo would take to social media to share their raw thoughts. "It seems we were not selected," Sakkari wrote under a post. Khachanov replied: "I see. It seems you need to be in the top 10 to participate."
The confusion is etched in these two comments. When taking a closer look at the draw itself, there are a number of pairs with lower rankings than their one. For example, Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Nuno Borges are both lower ranked than Sakkari and Khachanov, but it is them who have got into the draw.
Karen Khachanov, along with Maria Sakkari, will be felt hard done by to not gain entry in the US Open mixed doubles 2026
2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship pairs
| # | WTA player | ATP player |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | Novak Djokovic |
| 2 | Elena Rybakina | Taylor Fritz |
| 3 | Mirra Andreeva | Andrey Rublev |
| 4 | Iga Swiatek | Casper Ruud |
| 5 | Belinda Bencic | Flavio Cobolli |
| 6 | Diana Shnaider | Daniil Medvedev |
| 7 | Amanda Anisimova | Learner Tien |
| 8 | Alexandra Eala | Felix Auger-Aliassime |
| 9 | Leylah Fernandez | Frances Tiafoe |
| 10 | Taylor Townsend | Alexander Zverev |
| 11 | Elena-Gabriela Ruse | Nuno Borges |
| 12 | Jessica Pegula | Jack Draper |
| 13 | Naomi Osaka | Kei Nishikori |
| 14 | Sara Errani | Andrea Vavassori |
| 15 | Katerina Siniakova | Henry Patten |
| 16 | Peyton Stearns | Preston Stearns |
Overall, this means that they are most certainly excluded from the event. The six pairs with the highest ranking by the deadline, August 17, will gain automatic entry in the draw with eight others being given a wildcard to proceed into the doubles Grand Slam competition.
Two spots, therefore, are up for grabs. Maybe then that is Sakkari's and Kahachanov's way into this event. Eight teams will embark on a qualifying tournament to determine who will complete the lineup. The main event itself will take place from August 24 to August 26 with the singles starting four days later.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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