Mixed Doubles Revamp at US Open Attracts Elite Players and Skeptics Simultaneously
The US Open Mixed Doubles tournament is set for a radical transformation in 2024, aiming to elevate the championship and promote equality in tennis. The revamped tournament, which will take place during the qualifying week known as Fan Week, promises to attract more top singles players and increase fan interest.
The key changes to the US Open Mixed Doubles tournament for this year include a radically revamped format, aimed to draw star singles players who usually avoid mixed doubles to protect their singles performance. The tournament field has been reduced from 32 to 16 teams, with entry and seeding based on singles rankings, not doubles rankings. The schedule has been condensed to take place two days before the main singles draw starts, and matches will be played on the two biggest courts, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums, rather than outer courts.
Matches will now be sets played to four games instead of six until the final, with no-Ad scoring and match tiebreakers in place of a third set. The prize money has dramatically increased, with the 2025 winning pair splitting $1 million, up significantly from previous years where it was around $200,000.
These changes are intended to boost the event's profile but have sparked debate about the impact on dedicated doubles players. Many traditional doubles players and specialists have voiced their concerns, feeling that the new format disrespects their category of play.
Notable participants in this year's tournament include Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, Venus Williams, Novak Djokovic, Emma Raducanu, and Olga Danilovic, who have received wildcards. Olga Danilovic will be partnering with Novak Djokovic in the tournament.
In the men's and women's doubles categories, the champion teams will each earn $1 million. Matches will be best-of-three sets with short sets to four games, no-ad scoring, and tiebreaks at four-all. The total prize purse is $2,360,000, with the winning team earning $1 million.
The semi-finals and finals of the US Open mixed doubles tournament will be aired by ESPN in prime time. The total prize money for men's and women's doubles has increased by 23%, from $3.89 million in 2024 to $4.78 million this year.
The US Open Stadium is expected to sell out for the semi-finals and finals of the mixed doubles tournament, reflecting the growing interest in the event. However, the controversy surrounding the new format remains, with doubles specialists continuing to voice their concerns.
References:
[1] New York Times [2] ESPN [3] CNN [5] BBC Sport
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