Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul have withdrawn from the re-imagined U.S. Open mixed doubles event, causing ripple effects throughout the 16-duo competition.
Eleventh-ranked Navarro, who has suffered a pair of second-round losses and one first-round exit during the U.S. hard court season, has decided to compete in the WTA 500 event in Monterrey next week.
No. 16 Paul is just returning from injury and will take the week to get ready for singles competition in Flushing Meadows.
The newly-formatted mixed doubles tournament will be played on Aug. 19-20 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with $1 million in prize money going to the winning tandem.
Navarro was slated to play with top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who must find a replacement by Sunday, Aug. 17 at 2:00 p.m. or withdraw from the competition. Sinner will compete in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open on Saturday and will be a heavy favorite to reach Sunday’s finals.
Paul had been partnered with No. 4 Jessica Pegula, but the 2024 U.S. Open finalist will now team up with No. 5 Englishman Jack Draper. Draper’s partner Paula Bedosa had previously withdrawn due to a persistent back injury.
Pegula’s and Draper’s combined ranking of 9 keeps them within the top eight duos, who receive automatic entry.
The Italian tandem of No. 9 Jasmine Paolini and No. 10 Lorenzo Musetti will now receive direct entry into the field. They were not in the top eight and were not one of the previously announced six wild-card teams.
There are still two additional wild card teams to be announced.
–Field Level Media
