Zverev teams up with Bencic for swift US Open mixed doubles start
In a surprising turn of events at the US Open, world No. 3 Alexander Zverev and his partner Belinda Bencic were eliminated in the first round of the mixed doubles competition. The tournament, held mid-week before the actual start of the Grand Slam tournament and over just two days (19 and 20 August), has been met with criticism due to its abbreviated schedule and new format.
The competition, which is being played in the main stadiums with shortened sets, saw Zverev and Bencic struggle particularly in the first set. They lost the match to the American pair of Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison, with the final score being 0:4, 3:5. The match ended with a double fault by Bencic after 41 minutes.
Zverev had been battling physical issues at the Masters-1000 tournament in Cincinnati, but chose not to withdraw from the mixed doubles competition despite having more time to recover. Both players made too many unforced errors in the match, contributing to their early exit.
Interestingly, the top stars usually do not participate in the mixed event to focus on the singles competition, which begins next Sunday. However, Zverev and Bencic were an exception, teaming up for the competition.
The mixed doubles event has seen a total of 16 teams competing for the title, with eight places awarded by wildcards. This decision has caused displeasure among the doubles specialists.
In a positive note, Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani successfully defended their mixed doubles title at the US Open 2022, defeating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in the final. The prize money for the winning team has been increased to one million US dollars, adding to the tournament's prestige.
The semifinals and final of the mixed doubles competition are scheduled for Wednesday, with the second round set for Tuesday (local time). The new format of the competition, despite its criticisms, promises an exciting week of tennis action.
