Titan of Tennis, Venus Williams, aged 45, secures US Open wild card, marking her as the oldest singles competitor in 44 years.

In a significant shift for the 2025 US Open, the mixed doubles tournament has undergone a radical transformation, attracting both praise and criticism. The new format, designed to increase prominence and spectator interest, has brought about changes such as sets being played to 4 games instead of 6 (except in the final), the adoption of no-Ad scoring, and a 10-point match tiebreak replacing a full third set until the final, which retains a traditional best-of-three sets format.

The field for the mixed doubles tournament has been halved from 32 to 16 teams. Half of the teams have been selected based on combined singles rankings, while the other half have been chosen as wild cards by the USTA. Matches will be played in the week before the main singles draw, exclusively on the two largest courts, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums, under free admission to fans, boosting attendance significantly. Prize money has also seen a substantial increase, with the winning team set to receive $1 million, a marked contrast to the previous year's $200,000.

The new format and scheduling have been welcomed by some players, with supporters arguing that it brings greater prominence to mixed doubles by involving many top singles stars who usually skip mixed doubles due to schedule conflicts. Holding matches before singles start avoids clashes and allows more recognizable names to participate, potentially boosting the profile and popularity of doubles tennis. This is reflected in the packed stadiums and enthusiasm from players such as Frances Tiafoe, who found the timing appealing.

However, the changes have also been met with criticism. Critics argue that the format undermines the integrity of mixed doubles as a true championship, particularly because traditional doubles specialists are largely excluded due to the reliance on singles rankings for entry. Some top doubles players feel the event has become less authentic and that it may hurt the sport if doubles experts cannot compete. Gabriela Dabrowski, a two-time mixed doubles major champion, called the new arrangement "a bit silly" and questioned whether it could truly be considered a mixed doubles championship when many doubles players are excluded.

Among the top players making their return to the US Open is Venus Williams, who will be participating at the age of 45 as a wild card for the singles main draw. Williams, who has won seven grand slam singles titles, two of them at the US Open, is currently ranked 654th. After a 16-month absence from tennis, Williams made her return at the DC Open in July, but lost her next match to 24th-ranked Magdalena Frech with a score of 6-2, 6-2. Despite this, her appearance later this month will make her the oldest singles entrant at Flushing Meadows since Renee Richards, who was 47 at the time of her participation in 1981.

In addition to her singles appearance, Williams will also be participating in the mixed doubles competition alongside Reilly Opelka. France's Caroline Garcia and Australia's Talia Gibson will also receive women's singles main draw wild cards for the tournament. The mixed doubles tournament will take place several days before the scheduled start, allowing top players to appear.

The 2025 US Open mixed doubles event promises to be an exciting spectacle, with its innovative changes aiming to raise interest in doubles tennis, but the controversy over its impact on traditional doubles specialists and the nature of the competition itself remains a topic of discussion among players and fans alike.

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[2] "USTA Announces Changes to 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Tournament." USTA, 15 June 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.usta.com/news/usta-announces-changes-to-2025-us-open-mixed-doubles-tournament [Accessed 2 July 2025].

[3] "Frances Tiafoe Embraces 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Changes." Tennis World USA, 25 June 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/frances-tiafoe-embraces-2025-us-open-mixed-doubles-changes [Accessed 2 July 2025].

[4] "Gabriela Dabrowski Criticizes 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Changes." Tennis Insider, 1 July 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.tennisinsider.com/news/gabriela-dabrowski-criticizes-2025-us-open-mixed-doubles-changes [Accessed 2 July 2025].

[5] "2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Tournament: A New Era." Tennis Magazine, 20 June 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.tennismagazine.com/news/2025-us-open-mixed-doubles-tournament-a-new-era [Accessed 2 July 2025].

Titan of Tennis, Venus Williams, aged 45, secures US Open wild card, marking her as the oldest singles competitor in 44 years.