Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien already know their partnership can survive a short-format tournament. Their first US Open mixed doubles opponents will test whether that chemistry translates to the Grand Slam stage.
The third-seeded Americans will face wild cards Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul in the opening round Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Their court assignment and exact start time had not been announced as of Sunday. Play begins at 10 a.m. ET in Louis Armstrong Stadium and 11 a.m. in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The winners will return later Tuesday to play either Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik or a qualifying team in the quarterfinals.
ESPN2 and ESPN+ will carry mixed doubles coverage from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The remaining matches will stream exclusively on ESPN+ from 3 to 5 p.m.
How the Two American Teams Came Together for US Open
Getty Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien of the United States play Emma Navarro and Ben Shelton of the United States in the Eisenhower Cup during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California.
Anisimova and Tien are not starting from zero.
They first partnered at the Tie Break Tens exhibition at Indian Wells in March. Anisimova and Tien defeated Navarro and Ben Shelton during their run to the final before losing 10-7 to Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz.
“I have an amazing doubles partner,” Anisimova said of Tien after the US Open pairing was announced.
That Indian Wells experience matters because Tie Break Tens demanded the same urgency required by the US Open’s compressed scoring system. Anisimova and Tien learned how to divide the court, communicate between points and handle pressure without the luxury of a full match.
Navarro and Paul received one of the final main-draw wild cards. Both are former Grand Slam singles semifinalists, but they will be making their competitive debut as a team.
“I’m super excited,” Paul told USA Today. “She is awesome. We all love her, everyone on my team.”
The matchup also gives Navarro a chance to reverse her Indian Wells result against Anisimova and Tien—this time with Paul replacing Shelton beside her.
Breaking Down Anisimova-Tien vs. Navarro-Paul
Anisimova and Tien own the more established partnership and the most useful short-format experience.
Anisimova’s clean backhand and early ball-striking can take time away from Navarro, while the left-handed Tien offers a different serving and returning pattern. His ability to redirect pace could be especially valuable against Paul, who prefers using his movement and forehand to control rallies.
GettyEmma Navarro of the United States lunges for a ball while playing Jessica Pegula of the United States during day seven of the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 17, 2026 in Mason, Ohio.
Navarro and Paul may have the better defensive balance. Both move exceptionally well, rarely panic when pushed behind the baseline and can turn defense into offense. Paul is also comfortable moving forward, giving Navarro a partner capable of closing points at the net.
The critical battle will come on Anisimova’s return games. Her aggressive positioning could punish Paul’s second serve, but attacking too early would leave openings for Paul and Navarro to use angles and soft hands around the net.
Navarro and Paul should test Tien’s volleys and force the 20-year-old into repeated exchanges close to the net. Anisimova and Tien, meanwhile, will want to shorten points before their opponents’ superior coverage becomes decisive.
Matches through the semifinals feature sets played to four games, no-ad scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a third set. The final uses traditional six-game sets.
That format favors the team that settles first. Anisimova and Tien already have proof they can do that together. Navarro and Paul must develop the same trust while trying to eliminate them.
Amanda Anisimova, Learner Tien Face All-American Team in US Open Mixed Doubles