Tennis partners Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula candidly discuss their feelings towards the freshly introduced $1 million US Open mixed doubles competition, displaying amusement in their laughter while advancing to the semifinals.
In the lead-up to the main tournament at this year's US Open, Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula have made a splash in the mixed doubles competition. The event, redesigned to boost visibility and fan engagement, features a 16-team format with top singles players taking centre stage [1][3][5].
The revamped format includes shortened sets to four games, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a full third set. Matches take place on the biggest courts over two days, enhancing spectacle and attention, and prize money has been drastically increased to $1 million for the winners [1][3][5].
Draper, who hasn't played since Wimbledon due to a forearm injury, showed no signs of rust as he and Pegula advanced through the competition. They won their quarterfinals against Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz, as well as Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev, without needing a tiebreak [6].
Pegula, a fan of the new format, was surprised by Draper's doubles skills and impressed with his calls and aggressive play. Draper, in turn, praised Pegula's play in a jovial manner [7].
The pairing of Draper and Pegula came together after both players had difficulty finding partners last weekend. They were matched with limited prior communication and have since formed a successful partnership [8].
The US Open mixed doubles competition was moved to qualifying week this year, providing an opportunity for players to get some tennis under their belt before the main tournament begins. Only one wild card for the competition went to a doubles specialist pairing (Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori), reflecting the event's focus on attracting top singles players [4].
Despite the controversy surrounding the format, with some players and experts questioning whether it remains a true Grand Slam mixed doubles championship [2][5], Draper and Pegula's participation exemplifies the new star-focused approach. However, detailed personal opinions of Draper and Pegula on the format were not found in the available results [1][2][5].
As the competition moves towards its finale, Draper and Pegula find themselves in the semifinals, ready to face Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud. Their journey so far has shown that despite the format changes, the US Open mixed doubles competition remains an exciting and engaging event for both players and spectators alike.
References:
- US Open Mixed Doubles Format Changes
- Controversy Surrounds New US Open Mixed Doubles Format
- US Open Mixed Doubles Prize Money Increased
- Wild Cards for US Open Mixed Doubles Competition
- Opinions on New US Open Mixed Doubles Format
- Draper and Pegula Advance in US Open Mixed Doubles
- Pegula Praises Draper's Doubles Skills
- Draper and Pegula Form Successful Partnership
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