US Open: Mixed Doubles Renewed, Stars and Controversy in New York

US Open: Mixed Doubles Revolutionizes Tennis with Stars and Controversy

The US Open mixed doubles is gearing up for an unprecedented event, packed with star pairings, record prizes, and a touch of controversy. This year’s edition, which begins on Tuesday in New York, promises to be unlike any other in tennis history.

What makes this tournament special?

Unlike traditional mixed doubles tournaments, this one will be compressed into just two days during the qualifying week. The matches will be played exclusively on the largest courts of the USTA National Tennis Center: Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. Another innovative aspect is the participation of elite individual players. The US Open will use individual rankings for registration, which facilitates the participation of prominent figures. This contrasts with previous tournaments, where doubles rankings were used.

We have the opportunity to play serious matches at Ashe, in front of full stadiums, and all the best players in the world will be competing. It’s good to go out and have fun, play mixed doubles the week before the main draw starts.
Frances Tiafoe

Madison Keys y Frances Tiafoe competirán juntos en el dobles mixto de este año.

Stars on the Court

The tournament will feature a stellar lineup, including ten Grand Slam singles champions and seven additional players who have reached significant singles finals. Sixteen pairs were formed, eight of which entered directly based on their combined individual rankings and eight that received special invitations.

Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper
Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud
Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz
Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune
Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev
Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev
Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe
Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev

Special Invitations:

Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic
Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz
Katerina Siniakova and Jannik Sinner
Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton
Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori (defending champions)
Naomi Osaka and Gael Monfils
Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti

It is important to note that the pairs may undergo last-minute changes.

Mirra Andreeva y Daniil Medvedev compitieron en dobles mixtos en los Juegos Olímpicos de París.

Abbreviated and Dynamic Format

The tournament will be played in a shortened two-day format, with matches starting on Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET. The matches will be played in a best-of-three-set format, but with a particularity: each set is won by the team that reaches four games. In case of a tie at four games, a tiebreak will be played. In addition, the no-advantage scoring system will be implemented. If there is a tie after the second set, a 10-point tiebreak will be played.

I love innovation. I find it fantastic. We’ll all go out and play and see how it works. I’m not used to playing four games, but I’m used to playing. That’s an advantage.
Venus Williams

Millionaire Awards

The prize for the winners is $1 million, a significant increase compared to previous years. The runners-up will receive $400,000, and each couple participating in the draw will win $20,000.

Taylor Fritz y Elena Rybakina celebran su victoria en la Copa Eisenhower.

Mixed Reactions

While the initiative has generated enthusiasm among players like Tiafoe, Alcaraz, and Williams, not all tennis players have welcomed it with open arms. Doubles specialists, such as Katerina Siniakova, have expressed their discontent with the selection of participants. However, the tournament has already managed to arouse the interest and curiosity of the fans.