Tennis stars Zverev and Bencic advance in the mixed doubles tournament at the US Open, starting their campaign early.
The US Open has revamped its mixed doubles event for the 2022 tournament, aiming to create a more exciting and lucrative competition for the participants. The changes include a "superstars" doubles format, shorter matches, and a significant increase in prize money to $1 million.
The new format has been met with both praise and criticism. On one hand, the increased visibility and prize money for mixed doubles is expected to boost spectator engagement and attract more viewers. However, some argue that the traditional pathway for mixed doubles has been undermined, as the new format favors established singles players turned doubles "superstars."
Despite the controversy, the mixed doubles event is off to a lively start. A total of 16 teams, including Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic, are competing for the title. However, Zverev and Bencic's journey came to an early end in the first round, as they were outmatched by Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison, losing 0:4, 3:5. Bencic's double fault sealed the lopsided victory after just 41 minutes.
Notably, Zverev appeared to still be dealing with physical issues from his run at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 event. In contrast, Sinner withdrew due to illness, leaving Collins and Harrison to claim victory.
The mixed doubles event is being held mid-week and over just two days (August 19 and 20), with the semifinals and final set for Wednesday. The matches are played with shortened sets, and eight spots in the competition were filled via wildcards.
As the US Open's singles event approaches, beginning next Sunday, the focus will shift from the mixed doubles to the main draw. Regardless of the controversy surrounding the revamped mixed doubles event, it has certainly added an exciting twist to this year's tournament.
[1] Source: Tennis.com
