Doubles No.1 speaks on controversial US Open entry: 'Nothing more to say'

Sem Verbeek (left) and Kateřina Siniaková (right) after winning the 2025 Wimbledon mixed doubles title. (Getty/Clive Brunskill)

A world No.1 ranking would almost surely guarantee direct entry into any sporting tournament — except when it comes to tennis' mixed doubles.

Kateřina Siniaková, the current top-ranked doubles player on the WTA Tour, recently made the provisional cut-off for the US Open mixed doubles, where 25 pairs are in the mix.

That list will be trimmed to 16 teams when the top-eight teams based on a combined singles ranking gain entry, while the remaining eight pairs have to wait on wildcards.

Big names such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka are in line to compete in the star-studded new format, with the winner to take home A$1.5 million.

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Despite Siniaková's chances of appearing in the main draw alongside ATP doubles No.1 Marcelo Arévalo not entirely over, she was blunt in a recent interview.

"When two world No.1's in doubles don’t get into the tournament, there's probably nothing more to say about it," the Czech told Canal+.

A 10-time women's Grand Slam doubles champion, Siniaková is coming off her maiden mixed doubles major title at Wimbledon after a successful partnership with Dutchman Sem Verbeek.

Days before the mixed doubles list was published, Siniaková was asked about her chances of playing in the event.

"I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if I won't get [a wildcard], actually. I will just keep it like this," she told The Tennis Channel, as the 29-year-old herself a "five out of 10" chance to play mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows.

She stands at No.88 in singles, which is 61 places shy of her career-high ranking.

Verbeek was also quizzed on the controversial new look.

"I'm not going to actively root against it for it to not be a success," he said to BBC Sport when referring to the US Open mixed doubles.

"The positive I can think of is that there's going to be more people that can see the top singles stars earlier in the tournament when they are maybe a bit more accessible to the public.

"But as doubles athletes, my heart is bleeding."

The top-eight teams are set to be confirmed on July 28, with the eight wildcards announced at a later date.

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