Defending Champions Win US Open Mixed Doubles Amid Format Overhaul

Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori successfully retained their US Open mixed doubles title amid a controversially revamped format that reduced the draw to 16 teams and shortened matches to sets of four games. Despite criticism from traditional doubles players who labeled the event as more of an exhibition, the Italians showcased their doubles expertise by defeating singles stars Iga Świątek and Casper Ruud in a thrilling final. The USTA’s restructuring aimed to attract more singles players by scheduling the mixed doubles before the main singles tournament and cutting the field, but this shift sparked debate about the integrity of the competition. Throughout the tournament, singles stars such as Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, and Carlos Alcaraz participated but were eliminated early, underscoring the advantage of experienced doubles specialists like Errani and Vavassori. The new format drew sold-out crowds and increased visibility for mixed doubles, despite the mixed reactions from players and traditionalists. Persistent rain briefly disrupted singles qualifying matches, but the mixed doubles event concluded successfully at Arthur Ashe Stadium.