Remember the buzz when nine of the top ten in the PIF ATP Rankings stormed into the US Open mixed doubles draw? The blockbuster event returns on August 19 during qualifying week. But amid the star-studded field, one name made the biggest noise: Taylor Fritz. The Wimbledon semifinalist turned heads by picking Elena Rybakina as his partner, sidestepping the pool of top-tier American WTA stars. Curious why? 

In a freshly dropped video on X from the US Open’s official channel, Taylor Fritz didn’t hold back when asked why he jumped at the chance to play mixed doubles this year. “I always enjoy playing mixed doubles,” he declared. “I feel like I’ve been pretty, like, vocal about that I really like playing mixed doubles—like events where you get to play, you know, Olympics, United Cup, stuff like that. I’ve always been excited to play.” For Fritz, the thrill runs deeper than just a tournament; it’s about energy, chemistry, and seizing the right moments!

With the US Open now sliding mixed doubles to the front end of the week, Fritz knew this was the perfect storm. “Where’s lining up in the year, I feel like it’s a great opportunity to finally get to play mixed doubles and then, you know, playing with Elena, I think it’s pretty self-explanatory. We won the Tie Break Tens,” he pointed out, before dropping the ace: “I thought she played great. So I wanted to lock up a really good partner early.” No hesitation. No second thoughts. He wanted firepower, and Rybakina brought it.

Rybakina, calm yet confident, echoed the excitement. “He has such a good game that, I think it will be nice to, to play at the US Open,” she said. “And especially now, it’s a little bit changed. And especially now it’s a little bit changed. It’s before singles starts. So I feel like it’s good, also preparation for the singles.” A champion’s mindset, mixing momentum, sharpening the blades, and stepping into New York ready for war.

The two-day spectacle, with a $1 million prize money, is primed for fireworks considering how names like Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro, Emma Raducanu, alongside Carlos Alcaraz are set to battle it out. And Taylor Fritz, riding high on grass, building momentum, has been oozing confidence.

Speaking at his Wimbledon pre-tournament press conference, Fritz didn’t hold back. “I’d say I think I’m a bit of a mixed doubles specialist; I’m not going to lie,” he declared. “I think my record in mixed doubles kind of speaks for itself. In United Cup I don’t think I’ve ever lost a mixed doubles match. I think I’ve won the Indian Wells thing twice.” Numbers don’t lie, and neither does the fire in his voice.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he battled into the mixed doubles quarterfinals. His impact extends to team events as well. He was instrumental in Team USA’s United Cup victories in both 2023 and 2025, forging a rock-solid partnership with Coco Gauff. Together, they delivered clutch performances, including a pivotal win against Canada in 2025.

Fritz even clinched the Eisenhower Cup 2025, a mixed doubles exhibition held at Indian Wells, alongside none other than Elena Rybakina. Their chemistry lit up the desert, and the American No. 1 couldn’t shake the thought of a bigger stage. “I thought she played great last night. She did everything that I would, I guess, everything I could ask of a mixed doubles partner,” he said. “I think it’s a good fit. Yeah, I asked her to play because I was looking for a US Open mixed partner, and she said that she wants to.”

It wasn’t just talent, it was trust. Their pairing wasn’t just built on titles, but on timing, instinct, and mutual belief in something electric. For Fritz, this wasn’t a last-minute call; it was a calculated play.

As the revamped mixed doubles format gains traction, Taylor Fritz stands as one of its boldest supporters. With his sights set on New York and a dynamic partnership with Rybakina locked in, he’s not just entering the draw; he’s coming to own it.

Taylor Fritz backed the bold new mixed doubles format

In February 2025, the US Open sent shockwaves through the tennis world by unveiling a brand-new mixed doubles format. Now staged during ‘Fan Week’, the event is tighter, faster, and flashier, just 16 teams, half chosen by combined singles rankings and the rest granted wild cards. 

The matches run on the adrenaline-fueled Fast Four scoring system: set to four games, tiebreakers at 4-4. While the changes sparked debate, Taylor Fritz stood firm in support. “Mixed doubles, as it was, isn’t adding that much to the Slams,” he said, backing the move to spotlight the sport’s biggest stars in dynamic pairings.

The fans? They’re eating it up. Seeing powerhouses like Fritz and Rybakina share the same side of the net is pure box-office. But not everyone’s convinced. Rennae Stubbs, a doubles legend herself, didn’t hold back. On her podcast, she criticized the shift, calling it a “complete sideshow” and claiming, “It now feels like an exhibition of a mixed doubles event.”

The controversy deepens with the prize pool: skyrocketing from $200,000 to a jaw-dropping $1 million for the winning duo. Yet, details about payouts for earlier rounds remain foggy. Stubbs warned the new format risks undermining tradition, saying, “That to me is not okay when it comes to handing out a Grand Slam title at the end of the day.”

Still, the stage is set. Fast-paced thrills, sky-high stakes, and headline names ready to clash. The million-dollar question now is: can Fritz and Rybakina rise above the noise and capture it all?

The countdown begins!