Errani, Vavassori Defend US Open Mixed Doubles Title Over Swiatek, Ruud

Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori successfully defended their US Open mixed doubles title by defeating top-seeded singles stars Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in a thrilling final, winning 6-3, 5-7, 10-6. The revamped event featured high-profile singles players and offered a significantly increased prize of $1 million, five times more than last year, to attract elite competitors. Despite initial criticism of the tournament format changes that excluded other traditional doubles teams, Errani and Vavassori, the only established doubles pairing in the 16-team draw, demonstrated their skill and resilience to claim the championship. The final match was held at Arthur Ashe Stadium, drawing a rare and enthusiastic crowd for doubles tennis, fulfilling the organizers' goal of elevating the event's profile. The Italian duo's victory underscored the value of doubles specialists amidst a field dominated by singles stars and highlighted their continued excellence in Grand Slam competition. Meanwhile, other star-studded teams, including Djokovic and Danilovic, Osaka and Monfils, and Alcaraz and Raducanu, were eliminated earlier, emphasizing the toughness of the competition.