All you need to know about the US Open Tennis — SkimNews
SkimNews Take
Pairing a revived mixed doubles with star absences in the same announcement suggests format reinvention is increasingly serving as narrative ballast for broadcasters facing injury-driven lineup gaps.
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- US Open begins on August 30 and concludes on September 13, 2026, marking the final Grand Slam of the year at Flushing Meadows.
- Sky Sports will broadcast the tournament exclusively live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, with streaming available via NOW and the Sky Sports app.
- Mixed Doubles returns to the qualifying week schedule, featuring top singles players like Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic in high-profile pairings.
- Emma Raducanu will miss the tournament due to a stress fracture in her right leg sustained during the grass-court season, continuing a year marred by injuries.
- Jack Draper, despite being a 2024 semi-finalist, may need to qualify after dropping outside the ATP top 128 because of recurring bone bruising in his left arm.
- Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are defending champions, while Sabalenka aims for a third consecutive title—a feat not achieved since Serena Williams (2012–2014).
- Serena Williams could make a wildcard appearance in Cincinnati to assess her knee before potentially competing at the US Open, where her return would be a major storyline.
Why it matters: With top players like Raducanu and Draper facing qualification hurdles or withdrawal, the 2026 US Open opens opportunities for emerging talent. The inclusion of elite singles stars in mixed doubles revives interest in a traditionally lower-profile event, shifting attention and competitive stakes across multiple draws.
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