NEW YORK — The US Open mixed doubles tournament is one of the most exciting events in tennis, combining the power and precision of both men’s and women’s players in a thrilling team format. As the 2024 edition approaches, fans are eager to learn about the rules, prize money, confirmed teams, and UK start times for this year’s competition.
US Open Mixed Doubles Rules
The mixed doubles event follows standard tennis doubles rules with a few unique twists. Each team consists of one male and one female player, competing in a best-of-three-sets format. Unlike singles matches, there is no final-set tiebreak—instead, a 10-point match tiebreak is played if the sets are tied at 1-1.
Key rules to note include:
- No-ad scoring: The first team to win four points takes the game, with a deciding point at deuce.
- Let serves are played (unlike in some other tournaments where lets result in a fault).
- Teams alternate serving order between male and female players each game.
The tournament follows a single-elimination format, with 32 teams competing for the title. As tennis analyst Brad Gilbert noted, "Mixed doubles is where creativity meets strategy—players have to adapt quickly to different playing styles."
Prize Money Breakdown
The 2024 US Open mixed doubles prize money has seen a significant increase, reflecting the growing popularity of the event. The total purse for mixed doubles is set at $650,000, with the winning team taking home $160,000—split equally between the two players.
Here’s the full prize money distribution:
- Winners: $160,000
- Runners-up: $80,000
- Semifinalists: $40,000
- Quarterfinalists: $20,000
This represents a 10% increase from the 2023 prize pool, as the US Open continues to emphasize gender equality in compensation. "The mixed doubles event is a fan favorite, and we’re proud to reward these athletes accordingly," said tournament director Stacey Allaster.
Confirmed Teams for 2024
Several high-profile pairings have already been announced for this year’s tournament. Defending champions Jessica Pegula and Austin Krajicek will return to defend their title, while Wimbledon mixed doubles champions Mate Pavic and Lyudmyla Kichenok are also confirmed.
Notable Teams:
- Jessica Pegula (USA) / Austin Krajicek (USA) – Defending champions
- Mate Pavic (CRO) / Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) – Wimbledon 2024 winners
Other confirmed pairings include former champions Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray, as well as rising stars like Coco Gauff partnering with Taylor Fritz. The final team list will be completed during the on-site sign-in period one day before the tournament begins.
UK Start Times
For British tennis fans, the mixed doubles matches will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video. The early rounds typically begin at 5:00 PM BST, with the later rounds shifting to earlier start times to accommodate the US prime-time audience. The final is scheduled for Sunday, September 8th, with a start time of 8:00 PM BST.
The complete schedule is as follows:
- First Round: Wednesday, August 28 – 5:00 PM BST
- Quarterfinals: Friday, September 6 – 6:00 PM BST
- Final: Sunday, September 8 – 8:00 PM BST
Conclusion
The 2024 US Open mixed doubles tournament promises to deliver thrilling tennis action with its unique blend of teamwork and individual brilliance. With increased prize money, star-studded teams, and prime-time viewing for UK audiences, this year’s event is set to be one of the most memorable in recent history.
As former champion Jamie Murray put it: "Mixed doubles brings out a different side of tennis—it’s fun, unpredictable, and showcases the sport at its most entertaining." Whether you’re watching for the high-level competition or the dynamic partnerships, this year’s US Open mixed doubles is not to be missed.