US Open Mixed Doubles Tournament: A New Era
This year’s format for the mixed doubles tournament at the US Open was nothing short of a fresh change, yet the champions felt as traditional as ever.
Sarah Errani and Andrea Vavassori, the only genuine mixed doubles pair in this year’s bracket, successfully defended their title at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night. This tournament faced considerable scrutiny from some well-known doubles players, mainly in favor of popular singles competitors.
The duo secured a decisive victory, winning 6-3, 5-7 (10-6) against the third-seeded team of Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud. It’s a testament to their teamwork, which many argue is unrivaled.
I mean, really, how can anyone compare to the power of an Italian team?
There’s something about their coordination—it’s hard to beat.
After four victories in just 48 hours, the pressing matter of an abbreviated 10-minute rest between matches hardly seemed significant. They’d been there before.
“I think this win is for all the doubles players who couldn’t participate in this tournament,” Errani remarked during her on-court interview.
Errani and Vavassori demonstrated that even if two players rank highly in singles, it doesn’t guarantee success as a team.
And yes, the $1 million prize—an upgrade of $800,000 from last year—is certainly a bonus worth celebrating in this revamped format.
The duo’s performance was formidable. They didn’t falter until the second set of the championship match, where Vavassori was broken in the 10th game. The crowd was fervently cheering for Swiatek and Ruud as they fought to force a tiebreaker. Nevertheless, the established doubles team took charge, sprinting to a 4-0 lead that Swiatek and Ruud just couldn’t recover from.
“Today, doubles has really proven to be an excellent product,” Vavassori said, adding that marketing efforts need to improve for the future.
The unseeded duo cruised through the tournament without dropping a single set, routing Daniel Collins and Christian Harrison 4-2, 4-2.
Errani was sharp at the net while Vavassori brought unmatched strength to the court. Their synergy continued throughout the championship.
Collins and Harrison had their share of challenges, joining the list of defeated contenders that included seeds like Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina, alongside Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev.
“We’re on a mission,” Vavassori declared after their semi-final win.
And it seems, that mission has been accomplished.
The top-seeded pair of Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper fell short in a tight semi-final against Swiatek and Ruud. They lost in a tiebreaker during a high-stakes match, which showcased their resilience.
Swiatek’s double fault allowed Pegula and Draper to gain an 8-4 advantage during a crucial third set, but in a twist, Swiatek and Ruud surged back to take the last six points, ultimately advancing with scores of 3-5, 5-3 (10-8).
Despite initial difficulties, including double breaks mid-match, Ruud managed to stabilize their game, forcing a compelling second set and ultimately a tiebreak.
