EXCLUSIVE: John Millman Advocates for Bold Grand Slam Reforms Following US Open ‘Shake-Up’ That ‘Disadvantages’ Doubles Experts

Former Australian tennis star John Millman has voiced concerns that the revamped mixed doubles championship at this year’s US Open could prove detrimental to specialist doubles players in a bid to favour leading singles competitors, potentially reshaping the landscape of grand slam tennis indefinitely.

Unveiled on Wednesday, this newly designed mixed doubles event is set to make its debut at Flushing Meadows in August, featuring an altered schedule and format alongside increased prize money.

While the changes are promoted as a way to enhance interest in doubles tennis, Millman perceives the adjustments as having an “exhibition match vibe”.

Millman opines that if the US Open’s revamp proves successful, it may pave the way for a similar initiative at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, although he suspects that Wimbledon’s traditional perspective would likely keep it from adopting such changes.

“There were some discussions during the player forums at the Australian Open, where this new approach was being mentioned, hinting that substantial modifications could be forthcoming,” Millman stated on Wide World of Sports.

Over the past two decades, mixed doubles has seen a decline in prestige, as top players often bypass the format to conserve their energy for the singles draws and pursue higher earnings in singles competition.

This year’s US Open will see the mixed doubles event contested over two days in the lead-up to the main draws, coinciding with the singles qualifiers for both men and women.

Comprising 16 teams—eight with direct entries based on combined singles rankings and eight wildcards—the tournament will feature shorter matches utilising Fast4 scoring.

The modified format consists of a best-of-three abbreviated sets, where the first to four games wins. Games are also streamlined, with a deciding point to be played at deuce.

Tiebreaker lengths have been adjusted, with the first team to five points winning and a sudden death point introduced at 4-all, contrasting with the usual two-point advantage needed at 6-6 in traditional tiebreakers.

If sets are split 1-all, a 10-point match tiebreaker will decide the final set, with a winner-takes-all point at 9-all if necessary.

Only the final will bear resemblance to a traditional grand slam doubles match, being played as a best-of-three sets to six games with no-ad scoring, regular tiebreaks at 6-all, and a 10-point match tiebreaker.

The announcement provoked sharp criticism from doubles specialists, with Australian player Ellen Perez leading the backlash, suggesting that the changes suggest the US Open regards doubles players as “trash”.

Millman remarked that these alterations are likely to influence the earning potential of doubles experts like Perez.

“There’s definitely a split opinion among players,” he reflected.

“Those who focus solely on doubles are likely to feel the most significant effects of this decision.

The mixed doubles format has become redundant for many singles players.

However, I sense that serious mixed doubles competitors, with the reduced draw, are disappointed by the US Open’s changes.”

By aligning mixed doubles with the singles qualifying week, Millman sees a chance to broaden the marketing reach of grand slams over a three-week period.

Last year, the Australian Open kicked off a 15-day event with a Sunday start for the first time, adding an extra day for broadcasting and ticket sales to enhance revenue.

Similar extensions will apply at Roland-Garros, with the US Open adopting this revised schedule for the upcoming tournament.

“Tournament organisers have acknowledged this as a focal point. They want more of the prominent players to participate more frequently,” Millman explained.

“By positioning the mixed doubles tournament during the qualifying week at the US Open, it appears there’s a considerable push to elevate the commercial significance and viewer interest during that period.

This was evident at this year’s Australian Open, which featured numerous ticketed exhibition matches.

The week has been rebranded from qualifying week to Opening Week.”

The new AO Opening Week initiative commenced with celebratory events at Melbourne Park the week before the main draws, featuring charity and exhibition matches, live entertainment, alongside qualifying and open practice sessions.

“I believe there’s a growing trend among grand slams to foster more excitement during the qualifying weeks — they aim to draw in larger crowds earlier for the event and its vendors,” Millman observes.

“What’s unfolding at the US Open reflects a broader movement, indicating that this approach won’t just remain in Australia but will likely proliferate across all grand slams.

“There’s even a possibility of a Saturday start in the future; who knows?”

However, Millman expressed that Wimbledon may be less inclined to adopt these alterations. “Wimbledon traditionally adheres to a more conventional format, as evidenced by its cautious move to a Sunday start,” he stated.

A quarter-finalist at the US Open himself, Millman believes that as Opening Week gains recognition as the official start of a grand slam, the glory of the mixed doubles title at these tournaments could be revived.

Nonetheless, he has reservations about the unconventional entry process for the US Open.

“Perhaps they haven’t nailed down that model just yet,” he commented.

“I’m not particularly fond of the abundance of wildcards.

My general preference is for tennis to avoid wildcards altogether. While I’ve benefitted from them as an Australian, I don’t find them the fairest approach.

I’d advocate for qualifications earned on merit alone, with criteria for mixed doubles based on singles and doubles rankings combined.

I prefer a model where qualifications are determined by the best combined singles or doubles ranking.”

The mixed doubles championship at the US Open is scheduled for August 19 and 20, right before the main draws commence on August 24.