British number one Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz are one of several eye-catching pairings planning to play the new-look US Open mixed doubles event.
Fellow Briton Jack Draper is set to feature alongside Chinese world number four Zheng Qinwen, with a host of big names - including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Naomi Osaka - also on the entry list.
The US Open mixed doubles will be held as a standalone event on 19-20 August before the hard-court Grand Slam begins on 24 August.
Bringing the mixed doubles forward is a bold and revolutionary move by the United States Tennis Association, which said it hoped would attract more high-profile singles players.
Spanish five-time major champion Alcaraz says he approached Raducanu about teaming up through their agents, adding the 22-year-old Briton needed "time to think a little bit" before agreeing.
“I’m super excited about it. I think it's going to be great. It was an amazing idea for the tournament," Alcaraz said after his opening win at Queen's. “We will try to win. But obviously it's going to be really, really fun."
The 16 pairings announced by the USTA on Tuesday are not guaranteed to play in the event, although it is an indication the players involved are keen on participating.
The entry deadline, by which players must confirm if they will play, is 28 July.
“I’ll definitely play,” world number four Draper said.
“I think it’s a good format to get prepared for the US Open and having a shot at playing with another top player.”
