This is the second year of the new mixed doubles format at the US Open. Last season, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori took the crown. Some exciting pairs are looking to claim the crown this year, including the return of the great Serena Williams, who is paired with Carlos Alcaraz.
Here are my predictions for the two biggest matches of the day in mixed doubles.
Carlos Alcaraz & Serena Williams vs. Erin Routliffe & Lloyd Glasspool Preview
There is no more exciting pairing in this mixed doubles competition than Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams. Alcaraz is making his long-awaited return to the court after missing most of the season through injury. The fact that he is playing alongside the greatest women’s tennis player of all time makes it must-watch TV.
Even with just her singles resume, Williams would be considered the GOAT, but she also has 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, including two here at the US Open. She even has two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, including the 1998 US Open title. A full 28 years later, she is back to try to claim another mixed doubles crown in New York.
Unfortunately, the run of Alcaraz and Williams likely ends here. While they are the flashy names, they are going up against very tough opponents. Lloyd Glasspool is the former No.1 doubles player in the world and won the 2025 Wimbledon men’s doubles title. Glasspool is paired up with Erin Routliffe, who is currently the No. 14 doubles player in the world. Routliffe is the defending US Open women’s doubles champion.
Routliffe and Glasspool are both doubles experts. They make their money from playing doubles. Alcaraz only plays doubles on special occasions like this, while Williams is still trying to see if she can still compete at this level. While it’s awesome to see Williams and Alcaraz paired together, Routliffe and Glasspool should win this match in relatively dominant fashion.
Best Bet: Routliffe/Glasspool to win 2:0 (+140)
Jessica Pegula & Taylor Fritz vs. Diana Shnaider & Casper Ruud Preview
Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula are paired up in an All-American doubles partnership. These two, while elite singles players, also have doubles experience. Pegula played doubles regularly up until the past couple of years. She is a three-time major semi-finalist in women’s doubles and made the 2023 US Open mixed doubles final. Pegula was also a semifinalist at last year’s mixed doubles, playing alongside Jack Draper.
Taylor Fritz has not regularly played doubles in a long time. However, he has had some good showings when stepping in to play doubles. Alongside Tommy Paul, he made the bronze medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics in men’s doubles. He also made the quarter-finals in the Olympics playing mixed doubles with Coco Gauff.
Diana Shnaider is a strong doubles player, having won the silver medal at the 2024 Olympics playing with Aryna Sabalenka. Meanwhile, Casper Ruud doesn’t have much doubles history, but did make the US Open mixed doubles final last year playing with Iga Swiatek. While this is a solid pairing, the chemistry between the Americans should be solid. They are also much better players than Shnaider and Ruud in their current form. Pegula and Fritz should win this one and move on to the next round.
