Overview
- The two-day mixed-doubles tournament began Tuesday, August 25, using shortened-match rules that set games to four per set, remove advantage scoring, use a 4-4 tiebreak and employ a 10-point super tiebreak instead of a full third set.
- Organizers posted a new prize schedule that pays $40,000 for last-16 pairs, $120,000 for quarterfinalists, $250,000 for semifinalists, $500,000 for finalists and $1,000,000 to the winning duo to attract top singles players.
- High-profile pairings including Novak Djokovic with Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz with Serena Williams helped fill the draw and follow the 2025 experiment that expanded spectator interest.
- Several top doubles specialists and former players have publicly criticized the changes, saying the format forces specialists into qualifying, reduces their earning opportunities and makes the event resemble an exhibition rather than a traditional Grand Slam discipline.
- Tournament officials point to strong crowds—78,000 attended mixed doubles last season—as justification, and the shift could reshape how Grand Slams balance commercial returns with preserving pathways for career doubles players.