Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios are set to compete together in the revamped US Open mixed doubles event on August 19–20, 2025, during Fan Week, but there is no evidence to support claims that they have become business partners. The star-studded pairing, announced on June 17, 2025, has generated significant buzz due to their combined star power and the tournament’s new format, which offers a $1 million prize and features a “fast-four” structure (sets to four games, tie-break at 3-3, no-ad scoring), per Sporting News. Their entry, likely requiring a wildcard due to Osaka’s 57th and Kyrgios’s 633rd doubles rankings, aligns with the US Open’s push to attract top singles players, per ABC News.
No Business Partnership
While Osaka and Kyrgios share a professional connection through Osaka’s agency, Evolve, co-founded by Osaka and her agent Stuart Duguid in 2022, Kyrgios is not a business partner. Reports, such as a 2024 Sportskeeda article, note Kyrgios signed with Evolve, and the two collaborated on his Good Trouble podcast, where Osaka appeared as a guest, per Sportskeeda. However, this reflects a client-agent relationship, not a joint business venture. Speculation about a closer business tie may stem from their friendship, seen when they attended a 2023 LA Lakers game together, per Nine, or practiced in Los Angeles in 2022, per Mirror.
Mixed Doubles Background
The Osaka-Kyrgios pairing builds on prior speculation. In 2022, Osaka hinted at playing mixed doubles at Wimbledon, sparking rumors of a Kyrgios partnership due to their shared agency and practice sessions, per Tennis World USA. They played together in the 2024 US Open Mixed Madness exhibition, wearing Kobe Bryant jerseys, but lost to Taylor Fritz and Amanda Anisimova, with Kyrgios jokingly citing the “disadvantage” of their mic’d-up banter, per The Tennis Gazette. Their 2025 US Open entry, alongside pairs like Carlos Alcaraz-Emma Raducanu and Jannik Sinner-Emma Navarro, has fans excited, with X posts like @AndrewTWing calling it “box office,” per.
Controversy and Context
The US Open’s format, criticized by doubles specialists like Sara Errani and Ellen Perez as a “pseudo-exhibition” prioritizing entertainment over tradition, has drawn scrutiny, per Devdiscourse. Kyrgios, sidelined by injuries since 2023 with only nine matches played, sees the short-format event as a low-risk return, per Daily Mail. Osaka, a two-time US Open singles champion, adds star power, per Yardbarker. Their on-court chemistry, rooted in mutual respect, promises a thrilling show, but their professional relationship remains strictly player-agent, not business partners.
