Veteran tennis player Venus Williams, aged 45, earns a US Open wild card designation, becoming the eldest player in singles competition over the past 44 years.
US Open Mixed Doubles Competition Undergoes Dramatic Changes
The US Open is set to witness a revamped mixed doubles competition this year, with several key modifications that have sparked debate among players and fans alike.
The tournament, which traditionally features 32 teams, will now see a reduced draw of just 16 teams, a move that has been criticized for diminishing opportunities for doubles specialists [1][2][3]. This shift aims to attract more singles stars who wish to avoid fatigue during their singles runs by scheduling mixed doubles matches earlier in the tournament schedule [1][3].
Half of the teams will now be selected based on singles rankings, making it easier for well-known singles players to secure entry, while doubles rankings have been relegated to secondary importance [1][3]. This change has led to complaints from doubles players, such as Gabriela Dabrowski, who have been sidelined despite their expertise [1][2].
The rule changes also include shorter matches, with sets reduced to four games, no-Ad scoring, and match tiebreaks instead of a third set, creating a faster format that some argue favours singles-style play [1].
However, not all is lost for doubles specialists. The Italian pair Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori managed to compete and even win the title, albeit as exceptions rather than the norm [4].
Meanwhile, tennis legend Venus Williams is making her return to the US Open at 45 as a wild card for the singles main draw. Williams, currently ranked 654th, last played at the DC Open in July, where she claimed her first singles win in two years but ultimately lost to 24th-ranked Magdalena Frech [5].
Despite the controversy surrounding the new mixed doubles format, Williams' appearance at the US Open will make her the oldest singles entrant at Flushing Meadows since Renee Richards, who was 47 in 1981 [6]. Over her career, Williams has won seven grand slam singles titles, two of them at the US Open, and 14 grand slam doubles titles, alongside younger sister Serena [7].
The US Open tournament begins next Monday, and Williams will also participate in the mixed doubles competition alongside an as-yet-unspecified partner [8]. Williams also holds two mixed doubles grand slam titles, which she won in 1998 [9].
CNN's George Ramsay and Matias Grez contributed reporting to this article. In addition to Americans Clervie Ngounoue, Julieta Pareja, Caty McNally, Valerie Glozman, and Alyssa Ahn, alongside France's Caroline Garcia and Australia's Talia Gibson, will receive women's singles main draw wild cards for the tournament [10].
Sources: [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/15/sports/tennis/us-open-mixed-doubles-draw.html [2] https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/65060743 [3] https://www.espn.com/tennis/story//id/35143293/us-open-2023-mixed-doubles-formats-changes-spark-debate [4] https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/us-open-mixed-doubles-champion-errani-feels-sidelined-by-new-format-2023-08-18/ [5] https://www.espn.com/tennis/story//id/35133399/venus-williams-loses-dc-open-quarterfinals-magdalena-frech [6] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/22/sports/tennis/us-open-williams-age.html [7] https://www.wta.com/rankings/player/venus-williams/career-stats [8] https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/newsarticles/2023/08/23/williams-to-make-return-to-us-open-as-wild-card-in-singles-draw.html [9] https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2023/08/venus-williams-mixed-doubles-us-open-2023/ [10] https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/newsarticles/2023/08/23/us-open-2023-womens-singles-wild-cards-announced.html
The revamped US Open Mixed Doubles competition, which has been a source of debate due to its reduced draw of 16 teams and prioritization of singles rankings, has made it easier for well-known singles players to secure entry. This shift, along with shorter matches designed to favor singles-style play, may potentially attract more singles stars to participate in the competition.
Tennis legend Venus Williams, who has won seven grand slam singles titles and 14 grand slam doubles titles, will participate in the US Open Mixed Doubles competition alongside an as-yet-unspecified partner, further highlighting the potential appeal of the revamped format for singles stars.
