WTA superstar confirms she wants to play in US Open mixed doubles this year and says she will ‘definitely’ have a good partner

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The French Open arrives next in the Grand Slam calendar, with the Australian Open having kicked the season off superbly last month.

But it is the fourth and final Grand Slam that has been stealing the headlines, with the US Open moving mixed doubles to opening week.

Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are angry about the US Open mixed doubles change, with the event now taking place during singles qualifying.

It will finish before the singles main draw has taken place, with 16 pairs set to challenge for the trophy instead of 32.

The US Open mixed doubles will also feature a $1million prize in a bid to persuade the top singles players to play.

Aryna Sabalenka wants to play mixed doubles at 2025 US Open

And it seems that the approach may just work, with Aryna Sabalenka having discussed the change in her opening press conference for his latest event in Dubai.

Asked whether it impacts her decision on if she might want to play, the WTA number one replied: “I’d like to play. I believe it’s like two-days’ event. I always enjoy playing doubles. It’s like little fun sort of exhibition.

“It always gives me good energy and always helps me to play well in the tournaments. I might. I think it’s going to be fun to play.”

READ MORE: Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek help break fantastic WTA record

And asked if she is hoping to ask a partner or is hoping to be asked, the Belarusian responded: “We’ll see. Definitely going to be someone good.”

For now, however, her focus is firmly on Dubai, having fallen in the Qatar Open round of 32 in her first match since the Australian Open final.

Asked what happened in Doha and where her confidence levels are right now, she replied: “I don’t know. Personally Doha didn’t go really well.

“Not the result I wanted to be. But I think tennis-wise I’m feeling better and better. I had some time off after the Australian Open.

“I had maybe not enough preparation for Doha, but I thought I would be ready to play. Yeah, I really hope the result here will be a little bit better than in Doha.”

Aryna Sabalenka career doubles record ahead of potential US Open mixed doubles venture

Sabalenka has dominated the WTA Tour in recent times thanks to her singles exploits, having won three Grand Slam titles.

She triumphed in back-to-back Australian Open finals in 2023 and 2024, and just missed out on a third successive title last month.

READ MORE: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini all confirmed for WTA 500 event in April

Sabalenka also has a US Open title to her name and a US Open final loss, but there is also the small matter of fantastic doubles success on her CV.

The 26-year-old won the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open women’s doubles events, playing alongside Elise Mertens on both occasions.

She boasts six doubles titles overall, and even rose to number one in the world rankings, with 90 wins and 67 losses in her career to date.