The high-profile mixed doubles event at the US Open begins on Tuesday with several star pairings set to take to the courts at Flushing Meadows.

It was confirmed on Saturday that Serena Williams, who returned to tennis in June, will team up with defending men’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz in New York.

World No 1 women’s player Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic are the top seeds, with the all-American pairing of Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz the second seeds.

There will also be a qualifying event, made up predominantly of specialist doubles players, before the main draw starts on Tuesday. The defending champions are the Italian doubles pairing of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.

Here’s everything you need to know for the US Open mixed doubles event.

When is it?

The main draw starts on Tuesday 25 August with the first round and quarter-finals. Play starts at 4pm BST (11am local) on Arthur Ashe Stadium and 3pm BST (10am local) on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The semi-finals and final will headline a special night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday 26 August, starting at midnight BST (7pm local).

The qualifying takes place on Monday 24 August on Grandstand.

What is the draw?

Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic (1) vs Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe (Arthur Ashe)

Elina Svitolina vs Gael Monfils vs Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime (Louis Armstrong)

Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli (4) vs Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev (Arthur Ashe)

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz vs Qualifer/Qualifier (Arthur Ashe)

Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik vs Qualifier/Qualifier (Louis Armstrong)

Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul vs Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien (3) (Louis Armstrong)

Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev vs Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori (Louis Armstrong)

Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud vs Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz (2) (Louis Armstrong)

Qualifying pairs

Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten

Gabriela Dabrowski and Harri Heliovaara

Luisa Stefani and Neal Skupski

Aleksandra Krunic and Mate Pavic

Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arevalo

Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool

Peyton Stearns and Christian Harrison

Tatjana Maria and Valentin Vacherot

What is the format?

For every match up to the final, matches will be best-of-3 sets, with sets to four games and a 10-point tie-break instead of a third set.

For the final, it will be a traditional set to six games and a 10-point tie-break instead of a third set.

All matches will have sudden death deuce.

Prize money

Round 1 (qualifying) - $10,000

Round 2 (qualifying) - $20,000

Round 1 (main draw) - $40,000

Quarter-finals - $120,000

Semi-finals - $250,000

Finalist - £500,000

Winner - $1,000,000

Where can I watch it?

Matches in the United Kingdom will be broadcast on Sky Sports Tennis.

In the United States, ESPN2 will present live coverage, with the final on ESPN and ESPN+.

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