World tennis number one Iga Świątek has withdrawn from the mixed doubles tournament at the US Open, choosing to focus exclusively on her singles campaign after a demanding hard-court stretch that included a title run in Toronto and a semifinal appearance in Cincinnati.
Iga Świątek Withdraws From Mixed Doubles
The physical demands of a packed North American hard-court summer have prompted a major lineup change ahead of the year’s final Grand Slam. The world number one had originally planned to pair up with Norway’s Casper Ruud in the mixed doubles bracket in the wielkoszlemowym US Open, recreating a partnership that reached the final in the previous season. Instead, the Polish star pulled out of the mixed event to preserve her energy for the singles draw.
Her decision follows a grueling weeks-long stretch on court that saw her claim the title in Toronto before advancing to the semifinals in Cincinnati where she defended her championship and fell to American Jessica Pegula. Following consultations with her coaching staff, she opted to step away from the mixed competition.
Iga Świątek stated via Instagram that following a few physically demanding weeks on the court and after discussions with her team, she had decided that the best solution for her would be to withdraw from the mixed doubles at this year’s US Open.
With Świątek withdrawing, her intended partner Casper Ruud needed a new entry. Russia’s Diana Shnaider took her place alongside the Norwegian player for the tournament. The singles main draw on the New York hard courts is scheduled to start on August 30, giving the top-ranked player a brief window to reset.
The Evolution of the US Open Mixed Doubles Format
Świątek’s absence unfolds against a broader backdrop of debate surrounding the revamped mixed doubles tournament format at Flushing Meadows. For the second year, tournament organizers prioritized star-studded singles pairings over traditional doubles specialists, drawing a sharp divide between traditionalists and commercial strategists who saw American tennis fans vote with their wallets.
The draw featured marquee crossovers pairing players like Serena Williams with Carlos Alcaraz, and Aryna Sabalenka with Novak Djokovic. While these blockbuster pairings proved immensely popular with ticket buyers and spectators packing the stands, they left traditional doubles professionals largely sidelined.
Last year’s rollout of the experimental format drew fierce criticism from doubles specialists who felt excluded from a Grand Slam discipline. Among them, Polish doubles specialist Jan Zieliński voiced strong opposition calling it a total lack of respect for the tradition and history of the Grand Slam. Zieliński, who won two Grand Slam mixed titles in 2024 at the Australian Open and Wimbledon partnering Su-Wei Hsieh, argued that relegating regular doubles players to wildcard crumbs undermined the sport’s heritage.
Specialists Face Uphill Battles in the Main Draw
Despite the influx of singles superstars, a small contingent of dedicated doubles players managed to secure entry through rankings or qualifying paths. Katerina Siniakova, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished doubles players of recent years with 11 Grand Slam doubles titles and one in mixed, expressed wry frustration at having to battle through qualifying just to enter the main bracket.
Partnering with three-time Grand Slam doubles champion Henry Patten, Siniakova managed a dramatic first-round upset by eliminating the powerhouse pairing of Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic. However, their run was cut short in the second round by Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils. Siniakova and Patten stood out as the only specialist doubles team to win a match in the 2026 mixed tournament.
Other established doubles pairings suffered early exits. Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori fell in the first round to Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev. Meanwhile, Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arevalo dropped their opening match to Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik who ultimately advanced deep into the tournament before falling in the final.
Star Power Carries the Experiment Forward
The commercial success of the revised format underscores why tournament organizers are committed to the change. The pairing of Williams and Alcaraz generated widespread attention, drawing enthusiastic crowds that turned out in droves to watch the surreal spectacle. Even when Williams and Alcaraz were eventually ousted in the quarterfinals by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, the cultural impact of the crossover format had already been secured.
For Świątek, the calculation remains purely athletic. Having captured her previous singles crown in New York with her 2022 title run, the world number one’s primary objective is managing her physical recovery and maximizing her focus for the singles trophy hunt.
