U.S. Open's new mixed doubles gets mixed reactions
Venus Williams fist bumps her partner Reilly Opelka during the mixed doubles competition of the U.S. Open on Aug. 19 in Queens. Credit: AP/Yuki Iwamura
The U.S. Open experimented with a new doubles format this year, adding a mixed doubles mini-tournament that took place the week before the main draw.
The response to the new format was mixed.
Not among tennis fans. They loved it. The mixed doubles semifinals and final featured two days of sellout crowds in Arthur Ashe Stadium with another 20,000 fans allowed to watch earlier matches for free in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Traditional doubles players hated it because for the most part they were shut out. The new format was built to encourage big-name singles players to participate, which is why stars such as Carlos Alcarez, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula and Emma Raducanu participated.
“In our initial discussions about reimagining and elevating the U.S. Open mixed doubles championship, we wanted to find a way to showcase the world’s best men and women competing with and against one another,” Lew Sherr, the USTA’s CEO and executive director, said before the tournament. “We were confident that we would be able to get the top players in the game excited about this unique opportunity.”
A hugely boosted $1 million prize for the champions (up from $200,000 in 2024) and a total purse of $2.36 million didn’t hurt. Plus, even though the mixed doubles used a modified scoring format meant to shorten the matches, it still counted as a grand slam.
Of the 16 pairs of entrants, the only doubles specialists were Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavasorri, the defending champions who were granted a wild-card entry.
Before the tournament, the duo in a joint statement called the new format a “profound injustice.”
But then they won it and the $1 million prize. Errani and Vavassori defended their crown with a thrilling 6-3 5-7 10-6 victory over Swiatek and Casper Ruud in a packed Ashe Stadium last Wednesday in a match that ended just before midnight.
"This is for all the doubles players who couldn't play this tournament," said Errani. Still, she added: “Playing in front of all these people is something special for us. Thanks for coming and for staying."
Ruud, in a postmatch statement that wasn’t meant to be a slap at doubles players, said: "I would like to thank the tournament for going a little bold. It's been really cool for us players to try [doubles]."
That’s what chafed doubles players: That the big-name singles stars were just dabbling in their life’s work.
Kristina Mladenovic, a former nine-time grand slam winner across doubles and mixed doubles, called it “embarrassing” to have singles players say they are just in it for the giggles.
“A grand slam is neither preparation nor fun,” she told Eurosport. “It’s years of sacrifice. When you’re young, you dream of winning one, even in doubles. In terms of business strategy, it’s a brilliant idea. But from a sporting point of view, it’s problematic because it touches on the essence of tennis. A grand slam is a competition steeped in history, in singles and doubles. There’s no problem putting on such an event, but above all, don’t call it a grand slam.”
Doubles specialist Jamie Murray told The Independent: “People are obviously excited, because it’s the best men and women on court together, which is a cool product. But a lot of doubles players are annoyed.”
The success of the new format — which also included two days of primo programming for ESPN — means any discomfort among doubles players will likely be ignored if the Open runs it back next year. Whether it will be adopted by the other grand slam tournaments is unclear.
Venus Williams, who returned to the Open this year at the age of 45, received wild-card entries into the singles, mixed doubles and women’s doubles tournaments. Williams is a 14-time grand slam doubles champion with her sister, Serena.
“I love innovation," Williams said. "It's fantastic. We're going to all get out there and play and see how it works.”
In the new mixed doubles tournament, she teamed with fellow American Reilly Opelka and on Aug. 19 lost to Andrey Rublev and Karolina Muchova, 4-2, 5-4.
After dropping her lone singles match in three sets to 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic on Monday, Williams entered the women’s doubles tournament along with 22-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez.
Playing at a raucous Louis Amstrong on Thursday, Williams and Fernandez upset the sixth-seeded team of Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine and Ellen Perez of Australia, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
On Saturday, the duo defeated Ulrikke Eikeri and Eri Hozumi 7-6 (1), 6-1 in the second round of doubles.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
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