Tennis Grand Slam Tournament, US Open, to set a new record with a prize fund of $90 million, marking the highest in tennis history.
The 2025 US Open is set to make history with significant changes to its mixed doubles competition. The tournament, which will take place from August 18 to September 7, will see a revamped mixed doubles event that aims to boost its appeal and attendance.
For the first time, mixed doubles matches will be played during the "Fan Week," before the main singles and doubles draws, on headline stadium courts such as Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong. The matches will follow a radically new format: best-of-three sets where each set is first to four games, with no-ad scoring, tiebreakers at 4-4, and a 10-point match tiebreak replacing the third set. The final, however, will feature full sets first to six games, retaining no-ad scoring.
The winner of the mixed doubles competition will receive a substantial $1 million prize, underscoring the event's increased prominence. This change comes as part of a broader effort to address the longstanding struggles of doubles competitions in securing a place in tennis. The revamp aims to offer a faster, more viewer-friendly, and star-studded event during a period already popular with fans, as attendance during Fan Week soared by 37% in 2024.
However, the changes have not been without controversy. Some voices debate whether the shortened format diminishes the traditional doubles dynamic and whether this approach might undermine the sport's integrity or alienate doubles specialists. Nonetheless, supporters argue these moves are necessary adaptations to boost the profile and excitement of mixed doubles amid evolving fan interests.
The US Tennis Association believes the new format will "elevate mixed doubles with a bigger spotlight and provide a greater opportunity to inspire more people to play and grow the sport." Some of the top players participating in the mixed doubles competition include Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro, Casper Ruud and Iga Świątek, and Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov.
The overall prize purse for the 2025 US Open will be $90 million, a 20% increase from last year's $75 million, making it the largest in tennis history. Semifinalists will earn $1.26 million, a 26% increase from the previous year, while quarterfinalists will earn $660,000, a 25% increase. Singles finalists will earn $2.5 million, a 26% increase from the previous year, and the champions of the tournament will each earn $5 million, a 39% increase from the $3.6 million awarded in 2024.
Organizers have also set aside $5 million to cover player expenses, including a $1,000 travel stipend for each player and two hotel rooms at the official player hotel.
The changes to the mixed doubles competition at the 2025 US Open represent a bold experiment to modernize and spotlight the event by reformatting match structures, elevating prize money, and repositioning the competition within the tournament schedule, thus sparking debate about tradition versus innovation in tennis.
[1] CNN Sports [2] US Tennis Association [3] ATP Tour [4] WTA Tour
- By introducing mixed doubles matches during Fan Week and adopting a novel best-of-three sets format, tennis has stepped into a new era, aiming to captivate a wider audience and revitalize the sport.
- With a $1 million prize for the mixed doubles winner and the event spotlighted on marquee stadium courts, tennis is endeavoring to attract more fans and enthusiasts, while faced with debates about preserving traditional doubles dynamics versus innovating for future growth.
