Thousands of fans attended the US Open on Tuesday to witness the launch of its revamped mixed doubles event, which has been significantly changed to help attract the sport’s top players.
Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and Venus Williams were among the 32 players who played their opening matches. Taking place during Fan Week for the first time in history, the event offers a staggering $1 million prize money reward to the winner of the two-day event. Under the new format, matches up to the semi-finals will be the best-of-three short sets (first to four games) with no ad-scoring and tiebreakers at 4-4. A 10-point tiebreak will take place in the third set. Then in the final, the match will be best-of-three normal sets (first to six games with a tiebreak at 6-6).
There are four rounds of matches in the knock-out event, with two taking place on each day. It is a very different format from what usually occurs at Grand Slam events, but so far those taking part have been full of praise.
“I think it’s great, to be honest,” men’s world No.5 Jack Draper commented on the format.
“If I wasn’t playing the mixed here, I’d be training. I actually sort of prefer playing on a big court in front of people. It gets your eye in quicker. I think it would be cool if all the Slams did this. That’s my opinion.”
Draper is paired up with Jessica Pegula. The duo have made it through to the semi-finals after scoring wins over Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu (4-2, 4-2) before seeing off Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva (4-1, 4-1).
31-year-old Pegula has previously played mixed doubles three times at the US Open under its old structure, reaching the final in 2023. When asked to compare the two different formats, the American explained that it felt fairly similar from her perspective.
“Obviously, it’s shorter and it’s faster. I mean, in mixed, it’s the same thing, it’s the same feeling. It’s no-ad, 10-point tiebreaker,” she said.
“It doesn’t feel that much different to me. I try and problem solve. I feel like that’s part of tennis that makes it fun. Other than that, it feels pretty similar.”
Swiatek, who played her first mixed doubles match less than 24 hours after winning the Cincinnati Open, has lent her backing to the concept. The Pole and partner Casper Ruud will face Draper and Pegula in the last four.
“I think it’s a reminder that tennis should be fun. Obviously, when we’re just preparing for the singles, there’s a lot of pressure and expectations on us. When we also have the opportunity to step out on the court and feel this positive energy and just have fun. I think it’s a good reminder of that.” She said.
Meanwhile, Ruud believes it enhances interaction between players and fans.
“The top players are here practicing anyway. It’s a great chance for us to do something else and give some extra time on court back to fans. During Fan Week, a lot of kids show up. I think it was a great atmosphere out there,” Ruud commented.
What about those missing out?
The series of positive comments is a massive boost for US Open organisers, but not everybody is happy. Whilst the event has been revamped to attract the top singles players, many doubles specialists have been left out. Grand Slam tournaments are crucial for doubles players in terms of earning potential, as they reward the highest payouts, as well as the year-end finals.
Italy’s Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani are the reigning US Open mixed doubles champions who are also playing in the draw. They are both well-established doubles players. Vavassori also won this year’s French Open mixed doubles and reached another three major finals in the men’s doubles. Errani has won eight majors – six in women’s doubles and two in mixed.
“We are also playing for them (doubles players),” Vavassori states.
“I think it’s important to show that doubles players are great players. Our main goal in the future will be to change the narrative a little bit because singles players are amazing in singles, but doubles players are amazing in doubles. If doubles players play against singles, sometimes they play better because they are more organized.”
As for the argument that doubles players don’t attract as many fans, Vavassori says such a thing can’t be achieved without a strong structure being put in place to promote the discipline.
“We need a better job in marketing doubles because if you go to see a sport and you don’t know the protagonist of a sport, it is impossible,” the 30-year-old explains.
“They did amazing for the Bryans. They were legends. They were winning so much. The people (fans) started to also love the doubles game. I think we have to do it more in the future with the top doubles players.”
The Italian duo secured their place in the last four with wins over Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina in the first round, followed by beating Andrey Rublev and Karolina Muchova in the second. They will next play Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison.
US Open 2025 mixed doubles order of play for Wednesday
Arthur Arthur Stadium (12am BST start)
Semi-final 1: Pegula (USA) and Draper (GBR) vs Swiatek (POL) and Ruud (NOR)
Semi-final 2: Collins (USA) and Harrison (USA) vs Errani (ITA) and Vavassori (ITA)
Mixed doubles final: TBD
