Fresh from celebrating their wedding in Italy, Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur are preparing to begin the next chapter of their lives together on the tennis court after entering the revamped US Open mixed doubles competition.
The British-Australian couple, who tied the knot just weeks ago, are hoping to compete together in New York and make their first tournament appearance as husband and wife.
Wedding Celebrations Give Way to Tennis Ambitions
Boulter and De Minaur exchanged vows in the historic city of Siena before hosting a lavish celebration at the luxurious Borgo Santo Pietro hotel in Tuscany.
The Italian festivities came shortly after a more intimate family ceremony held in Leicestershire, where Boulter is from.
Now, with the celebrations behind them, the pair are shifting their focus back to professional tennis as they aim to secure a place in one of the sport’s most talked-about doubles events.
A Second Chance After Last Year’s Disappointment
The couple also entered the US Open mixed doubles tournament last season but narrowly missed out on a place in the final field due to fierce competition.
This year’s event offers another opportunity to compete together, having previously partnered at Wimbledon three years ago and demonstrated strong chemistry on court.
Revamped Tournament Continues to Attract Tennis Superstars
The United States Tennis Association introduced a new format for the mixed doubles championship last year in an effort to attract more of the world’s leading singles players while creating greater excitement ahead of the US Open main draw.
Unlike the traditional Grand Slam doubles competition, the event features a limited field packed with high-profile partnerships, making entry highly competitive.
Six teams qualify automatically based on their combined singles rankings, while several additional pairs receive wildcards.
This year also includes a qualifying stage that gives more teams a chance to earn their place.
Star-Studded Partnerships Fill the Entry List
Boulter and De Minaur are among the latest pairings announced for the tournament, joining an impressive lineup featuring some of tennis’ biggest names.
Among the standout duos expected to compete are world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka alongside Novak Djokovic, Elena Rybakina with Taylor Fritz, and Iga Swiatek partnering Casper Ruud.
Several real-life couples have also entered, including Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, while Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Nuno Borges are also set to play together.
Familiar Faces Reunite for Another Campaign
British star Jack Draper is hoping to build on last year’s impressive run by once again partnering American Jessica Pegula after the pair reached the semi-finals in the previous edition.
However, Draper’s participation still depends on receiving a main draw wildcard, which would allow him to compete in mixed doubles instead of entering singles qualifying.
Elsewhere, newly announced partnerships include Anna Kalinskaya with Lorenzo Musetti, Karolina Muchova alongside fellow Czech Jakub Mensik, and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams teaming up with Alexander Bublik.
Emma Raducanu Forced to Miss Out
One of last year’s most popular pairings will not return after Emma Raducanu was ruled out of the US Open because of a grade four stress fracture.
Her injury means fans will not get another opportunity to see her reunite with Carlos Alcaraz, whose partnership with the British star generated enormous attention during the previous tournament.
With the entry deadline remaining open until August 17, more high-profile combinations could still emerge, particularly involving stars such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Serena Williams, who have yet to announce partners.
Million-Dollar Prize Adds Extra Incentive
The revamped mixed doubles competition offers a lucrative $1 million prize while using a faster-paced format designed to maximise entertainment.
Early-round matches are played as best-of-three contests with shortened four-game sets, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point match tiebreak replacing a deciding third set.
From the semi-finals onward, matches revert to the traditional six-game sets, providing a more familiar finish to the tournament.
