Gabriela Ruse’s US Open mixed‑doubles entry sparks selection controversy

Romanian player Gabriela Ruse and her partner, Portuguese No. 49 ATP player Nuno Borges, were listed among the 16 mixed‑doubles teams for the US Open, scheduled for 24‑26 August 2026 in New York. Their combined ranking (124) is lower than that of Greece’s Maria Sakkari (33) and Russia’s Karen Khachanov (26), who argued they deserved a spot. Sakkari posted on Instagram that the pair was omitted, and Khachanov replied sarcastically, noting a perceived “top‑10” requirement. Critics highlighted the ranking discrepancy – Sakkari/Khachanov’s cumulative rank is 59 versus Ruse/Borges’ 124 – and questioned the tournament’s selection criteria, which allocate six spots to the highest‑ranked pairs, eight wild‑cards, and the remaining two through a qualifying draw. The provisional list, announced earlier this month, remains open for entries until 17 August, prompting further debate within the tennis community.