Harri Heliövaara must qualify for US Open mixed doubles

World number one doubles player Harri Heliövaara and his partner Gabriela Dabrowski must compete in the qualifying rounds to secure a spot in the US Open mixed doubles tournament. Despite their high rankings and combined eight Grand Slam titles, the duo faces a qualifying bracket where only two of the eight participating pairs will advance to the main draw.

The requirement for top-ranked doubles specialists to qualify stems from recent US Open rule changes. The tournament restructured the mixed doubles event to be more entertainment-focused, including shorter matches and a scheduling shift to the week preceding the singles tournament. Direct entry into the main draw is now primarily determined by players' singles rankings, a move designed to attract singles stars like Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, but one that has drawn criticism from doubles specialists.