Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in talks over shock US Open mixed doubles pairings

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are reportedly in talks over surprise pairings at this year’s US Open.

The world’s top two men’s singles players are expected to enter the mixed doubles event at the season’s final Grand Slam, potentially transforming it into one of the tournament’s headline attractions.

While the participation of the world No.1 and No.2 would already generate huge interest, attention is likely to focus even more on their high-profile partners.

According to Sky Italia journalist Angelo Mangiante, Alcaraz and Sinner could each team up with one of the Williams sisters in what would be one of the most exciting tennis spectacles in recent memory.

The report claims that seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Alcaraz will partner 23-time major winner Serena Williams, while four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner is set to team up with seven-time singles major champion Venus Williams.

Alcaraz has claimed two of his Grand Slam titles at the US Open but has never won a doubles trophy. His best doubles result came at the 2024 Olympics, where he reached the quarter-finals, while he exited early at last year’s US Open when partnering Emma Raducanu.

Serena captured six of her Grand Slam singles titles at Flushing Meadows and also won the US Open women’s doubles title alongside Venus in 1999 and 2009. She added the mixed doubles crown there in 1998.

Their potential opponents also bring strong credentials. Sinner won his lone US Open title in 2024 and has never competed in Grand Slam doubles, while Venus is a two-time US Open singles champion and has lifted two doubles trophies alongside Serena. However, she has never won the mixed doubles title in New York.

The US Open revamped the mixed doubles format last year, staging the event in the week before the main draw. The change enabled many of the world’s leading players to use the shortened competition as preparation for the singles tournament.

This year, the main tournament runs from August 31 to September 13, while the mixed doubles competition will take place during Fan Week and be completed within three days. Qualification is scheduled for August 24, with the opening two rounds on August 25. The semi-finals and final will then be contested on August 26.

Despite the excitement surrounding the prospect, it remains unclear whether Alcaraz will be fit enough to compete at the US Open. The 23-year-old has not played since withdrawing from his match against Tomáš Macháč at the Barcelona Open two months ago.

The world No.2 has already confirmed he will miss the chance to defend his French Open title at Roland-Garros and has also withdrawn from Wimbledon, where he finished runner-up last season.

Serena made a surprise return to competitive tennis earlier this week when she played doubles at Queen’s Club, marking her first appearance since the 2022 US Open. The 44-year-old has also confirmed her participation at next week’s Berlin Open, although her plans beyond that tournament remain uncertain.