Novak Djokovic once demanded an apology from Aryna Sabalenka after she walked across his Wimbledon practice court without acknowledging him. Of course, jokingly. Sabalenka then played along and replied, “I am so sorry, Mr. Legend.” Months after that light-hearted exchange and several other moments of banter, the two will be on the same side of the net.

According to the US Open, Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka will officially team up at the 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship.

The tournament was overhauled last year with a $1 million prize for the winning pair to attract some of the sport’s biggest stars. Now it will once again be staged over two days at Flushing Meadows. However, this announcement isn’t completely out of nowhere.

Djokovic, who is chasing his 25th Grand Slam title, has a warm relationship with the two-time defending US Open women’s singles champion, Aryna Sabalenka. Both of them have long shared an easy chemistry, and the above instance is just one of many.

The two have also traded dance battle bragging rights at the French Open. Furthermore, Djokovic once teased her famous grunt during a Wimbledon practice session, saying it would draw a hindrance call on the ATP Tour.

That said, Sabalenka has teased the pairing idea for months now, going back to January, when she said she was still waiting for Novak Djokovic to call his “dream partner.” She said back playfully, sure, but the dream has finally come true.

They are far from the only marquee pairing returning to New York. Last year’s runner-up Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud are back, while Jack Draper reunites with Jessica Pegula after the pair reached the 2025 semifinals.

The initial entry list also includes Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori, Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz, Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, Diana Shnaider and Daniil Medvedev, Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien, Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime, siblings Peyton and Preston Stearns, and Taylor Townsend alongside Alexander Zverev.

Among those hoping to spoil the singles stars once again are defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. The duo had captured last year’s title despite needing a wild card because of their lower singles rankings, and they are expected to require another one this year.

But the introduction of an eight-team qualifying tournament allows more traditional doubles teams to earn a place in the draw. Not everyone had welcomed the format when it made its debut last year.

Many doubles specialists had argued that the event gave priptiosed the single stas at the expense of established doubles partnerships. However, despite that, the experieemnt was successful, and it drew over 78,000 fans across the two competition days and sold out Arthur Ashe Stadium.

USTA CEO Craig Tiley defended the concept, saying, “Any time you can bring women and men together on the same team, you showcase tennis at its best. This is exactly what the mixed doubles championship does.”

Still, the biggest talking point might be not the names in it, but the names missing from the initial list.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz among abesntees

After the initial list was announced, one of the biggest disappointments for fans was the absence of two key names.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, two of the sport’s biggest current draws, haven’t been confirmed in any pairing.

Alcaraz has been working his way back from a wrist injury that has kept him out since April, and Sinner recently withdrew from the Canadian Open.

The withdrawal came as an effort to manage his fitness ahead of the U.S. Open stretch.