Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori: US Open Mixed Doubles Champions
In a renewed edition of the US Open, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori demonstrated their worth by conquering the mixed doubles title. The Italians, after overcoming various adversities, won the victory, making it clear that specialization in doubles remains crucial in tennis. The Italian pair defeated Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, the third seeds, with a score of 6-3, 5-7 (10-6) in an exciting final. This victory allowed them to add a million dollars, a figure significantly higher than that obtained the previous year.“I think it was important for us to play. The initiative was also important because it really was a statement that doubles can become something better. The stadium was full. People were enjoying it. If something doesn’t work, as we showed today, it is working. People were going crazy,” commented Vavassori.
Andrea Vavassori
This achievement marks the first time a pair has repeated as champions at Flushing Meadows since Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray in 2018-19. Errani and Vavassori dedicated their victory to the doubles players who did not have the same opportunity to participate in the tournament.
The presence of prominent figures in individual tennis such as Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, and Daniil Medvedev, although with mixed results, enhanced the importance of the event. Despite the rain, Arthur Ashe Stadium remained full during the matches on Wednesday night. The U.S. Tennis Association took a risk with the changes to the tournament, which included shorter sets in the early rounds. However, the media attention towards the doubles event exceeded expectations, according to some players. In the semifinal, Swiatek and Ruud defeated Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper with a score of 3-5, 5-3 (10-8). Although Swiatek and Ruud showed a good performance in the final, they could not match the skill of the Italians, who had already won another important title at this year’s Roland Garros. Errani emphasized the importance of strategy in doubles, highlighting that it’s not just about a good serve and effective shots, but also other crucial aspects. Errani, one of the most successful doubles players, won a career Grand Slam with Roberta Vinci, in addition to the 2024 Olympic gold medal with Jasmine Paolini. Swiatek and Ruud, for their part, shared $400,000, double what Errani and Vavassori earned the previous year.
