Blog · US Open · 31 Jul 2026 · 9 min read · Updated July 31, 2026
US Open 2026 Mixed Doubles: Osaka & Nishikori Schedule
Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori appear together on the initial entry list for the 2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship. That is an important first step, but it is not yet confirmation that they hold one of the 16 main-draw places. Entries close at noon ET on Monday, 17 August; the final field depends on combined singles rankings, wild cards and qualifying.
Mixed doubles runs from 24–26 August, before the singles main draw. This guide separates what is official from what remains unknown, explains the unusual short-set format and shows when to check the draw and order of play.
Are Osaka and Nishikori Confirmed to Play?
The USTA's 27 July announcement lists Osaka and Nishikori among 16 initially entered teams. The word initial matters. The entry window remains open until 17 August, and the top six teams by combined singles ranking at the deadline receive direct acceptance. Eight teams receive wild cards and two qualify through an eight-team event.
Until those decisions are published, the accurate description is ‘entered’, not ‘confirmed in the main draw’. Their opponent, court and individual start time will come later through the draw and daily order of play. A session start time should never be presented as the exact start of their match.
| Item | Status on 31 July | Next confirmation |
|---|---|---|
| Initial entry | Listed | USTA announcement |
| Direct main-draw place | Not confirmed | After 17 August deadline |
| Wild card or qualifying | Not confirmed | Later USTA announcement |
| Opponent and court | Unknown | Draw and order of play |
US Open 2026 Mixed-Doubles Schedule
Qualifying begins on Monday, 24 August at 11:00 a.m. ET in Grandstand. The first round and quarterfinals follow on Tuesday, 25 August: Louis Armstrong Stadium starts at 10:00 a.m. and Arthur Ashe Stadium at 11:00 a.m. The semifinals and final are scheduled for Ashe from 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 August.
Those are court or session start times. If a team is assigned to the second match, its actual start depends on the previous match. Check the order of play once released, then follow live court progress on the day rather than relying on a calendar alert alone.
| Date | Round | Venue and start |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug | Qualifying | Grandstand · 11:00 a.m. ET |
| 25 Aug | Round 1 / quarterfinals | Armstrong 10:00 a.m.; Ashe 11:00 a.m. |
| 26 Aug | Semifinals / final | Arthur Ashe · 7:00 p.m. ET |
How the 16-Team Field Is Selected
Six teams qualify directly through the best combined singles rankings at the deadline. Eight wild cards are chosen by the USTA. The remaining two places go to teams that advance from qualifying, where six direct entries and two wild cards make up an eight-team draw.
A famous pairing is not automatically a wild card, and missing the top six does not automatically send a team into qualifying. Wait for the official field announcement. The same distinction protects readers from booking travel or buying a player-specific ticket around a match that has not been assigned.
Scoring Format: Short Sets Until the Final
From qualifying through the semifinals, matches use best-of-three with four-game short sets, a tiebreak at 4–4, no-ad scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a third set. The format makes every early break and every deciding point unusually valuable.
The final changes the first two sets to the normal six-game format, with a tiebreak at 6–6. No-ad scoring and the 10-point match tiebreak remain. It is therefore not a completely standard three-set final, even though the opening sets are longer.
How to Follow the Osaka–Nishikori Team
Check the field after the 17 August deadline, then the official draw, then the order of play. For television, use the rights holder's final programme guide: an American broadcast announcement does not automatically confirm coverage in every country.
If attending in New York, qualifying in Grandstand and Tuesday play in Armstrong are advertised as free with a Fan Access Pass. Ashe sessions require a ticket. A ticket secures access to a session, not a guarantee that one specific team will be scheduled there.
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