‘Athletes Express Frustration Over ‘Disappointing’ Changes to US Open Mixed Doubles Amid Lack of Player Communication’

The US Open is shifting its mixed doubles championship to the week prior to the singles matches, in a bid to entice top players to vie for a grand slam doubles title with a revamped format and a tempting prize pool of $1 million (approximately $1.59 million AUD).

This year’s competition will feature 16 teams competing over two days, with matches set to be shorter. The tournament’s organisers are hopeful that this will draw in the sport’s elite players, many of whom have opted out of participating in doubles to stay fresh for the singles events.

“Our main goal is to engage more fans and expand the global fan base,” explained Lew Sherr, executive director and CEO of the US Tennis Association.

“To achieve this, we need the biggest names in the sport to partake in doubles, showcasing them in this exciting new format.”

The mixed doubles matches are scheduled for August 19 and 20, coinciding with the qualifying rounds for both men’s and women’s singles. The main draw for singles will kick off on August 24.

The early round matches will adopt a best-of-three sets format, played to just four games, featuring a deciding point at deuce. Tiebreakers will occur at 4-all instead of the traditional 6-6, and if the teams split sets, they will engage in a 10-point match tiebreaker instead of playing a third set.

The final match will resemble a traditional grand slam contest, conducted as a best-of-three sets format with games played to six, employing no-ad scoring and tiebreakers at 6-all, with a 10-point match tiebreaker if needed.

However, some players have voiced concerns about the changes, questioning the tournament’s credibility as a grand slam event. They argue that many competitors now have little chance to participate.

“There’s been no communication with players, no consideration for the impact this has on careers, and a lack of respect for the sport’s traditions. It’s disappointing,” commented Jan Zielinski, a two-time grand slam mixed doubles champion, on social media, adding a circus tent emoji to highlight his frustration.

Sherr indicated that the USTA had been contemplating a format change for several years, but it gained momentum after last year’s “Mixed Madness” event during the qualifying week, which attracted singles stars like Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios, and Ben Shelton, with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa clinching the title.

“We’ve had discussions about why top players don’t compete and fully understand the scheduling pressures,” said Sherr. “The mixed madness event last year provided valuable insights that showed we could open up that week for top singles players without jeopardising their fitness or health, creating a significant opportunity for their involvement.”

Last year’s event offered $794,000 in prize money with only four teams participating. By doubling the winners’ prize and expanding the field, Sherr believes this event can become a competition that deserves recognition as a grand slam title rather than an exhibition.

“The athletes were committed. It was a serious competition, not just a light-hearted affair. There were no kids on the court. This was about competition, and the intent was clear. We now have an opportunity to establish a legitimate world championship, a grand slam title, which raises the stakes significantly,” Sherr asserted.

Eight teams will enter based on combined singles rankings, while another eight will receive wild cards. Although no specific players have been confirmed, Sherr noted that several have shown interest, with announcements expected in the coming weeks, well before the field finalises in the summer.

“Sets to four games in a grand slam? Sixteen teams with eight determined by singles rankings and eight others given wildcards. I’m afraid this format will not produce a genuine mixed doubles champion. It’s been devalued from a grand slam title to an exhibition,” stated Paul McNamee, a five-time grand slam doubles champion and former Australian Open tournament director, on social media.

The tournament is set to be held in the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums, the two largest venues on-site, and will be broadcast by ESPN during prime time, a significant platform for doubles events.

However, this new format may marginalise doubles specialists who rely on grand slam earnings, as they will be sidelined from this event. In response, Sherr mentioned that the prize money originally allocated to last year’s 32-team mixed doubles tournament will be redirected towards enhancing the men’s and women’s doubles tournaments.

“We understand some will be disappointed about the missed opportunity to compete in this event,” Sherr acknowledged. “However, we believe there’s a substantial opportunity to spark increased global interest in doubles, which may, in turn, elevate the visibility of the men’s and women’s doubles as we progress through the tournament.

“We’ll have to see how it unfolds, but our mixed competition has historically drawn attention away from the men’s and women’s singles, which has affected the quality of the fields. This is a chance to put a significant spotlight on doubles over two exciting evenings.”