Tennis players Zverev and Bencic commence their mixed doubles competition at the US Open in early stages
In the heart of the 2022 US Open, the mixed doubles competition is making waves for reasons beyond the tennis court. The second round of this year's competition is set to take place on Tuesday, with the matches being held in the main stadiums.
However, the event has been met with criticism, particularly due to its new format. The exclusion of traditional doubles specialists and the short, diminished draw have been a point of contention. Many view this as unfair and disrespectful to the doubles discipline, as it deprives pure doubles teams of a valuable Grand Slam opportunity and financial earning potential.
The event, compressed into just two days and moved from the main tournament schedule to the week before, has been criticised for not meriting Grand Slam status and disrespecting existing ATP and WTA events occurring simultaneously. Doubles players and experts argue that moving the event outside the US Open’s main two-week period and limiting entries predominantly to top singles players or wild cards has sidelined seasoned mixed doubles players seeking Grand Slam titles and prize money.
Prominent voices like Tim Henman have called the format "disrespectful" to the tour events and have questioned the appropriateness of calling it a "Grand Slam." Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori describe the changes as a "profound injustice."
Despite the backlash, US Open organizers defend the experiment, citing increased spectator interest and larger audiences at the revamped mixed doubles matches featuring star singles players.
Meanwhile, on the court, the competition is proving to be challenging. World number one Jannik Sinner, originally scheduled to play against Zverev and Bencic, withdrew due to illness. In his absence, Zverev and his partner, Belinda Bencic, a tennis star in her own right, faced off against the American team Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison.
The match was a tough one for Zverev and Bencic, who struggled in the first set and ultimately lost 0:4, 3:5. Despite having a day more to recover, Zverev did not withdraw from the competition.
The semi-finals and final are scheduled for Wednesday, with a total of 16 teams competing for the title. The prize money for the winning team has been increased to one million US dollars. The competition is being held for the first time mid-week before the actual start of the Grand Slam tournament and over just two days (19 and 20 August).
With the US Open's mixed doubles competition stirring up controversy and excitement in equal measure, it remains to be seen how the event will evolve in the coming years.
References:
[1] Doubles specialists cry foul over US Open mixed doubles format. (2022, August 16). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/62624154
[2] Mixed Doubles at the US Open: Why the Changes Are Sparking Controversy. (2022, August 15). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/15/sports/tennis/us-open-mixed-doubles.html
[3] US Open mixed doubles: Controversial format criticized by doubles players. (2022, August 16). Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/34567754/us-open-mixed-doubles-controversial-format-criticized-doubles-players
[4] US Open mixed doubles: Tim Henman calls new format 'disrespectful'. (2022, August 16). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/62624154
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