US Open’s Mixed Doubles Shake-Up Sparks Debate but Draws Big Crowds

Oscar Wilde once said the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. The US Open’s bold experiment with mixed doubles has certainly ensured the format is in the spotlight, Sport360NG reports.

For years, mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows was an afterthought, buried in finals weekend and attracting limited attention. This year, however, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) reimagined the competition, offering huge financial incentives, a shorter format, and a prime slot before the main draws. The result: packed stands, star-studded line-ups, and plenty of debate.

Three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud, who partnered six-time major champion Iga Świątek to a runner-up finish, admitted the revamp divided opinion but praised its impact.
“It created a lot of reaction and was a bold move,” Ruud said. “But you can’t deny it’s been fantastic for the fans.”

The question lingered throughout: was the presence of big-name singles players a triumph for engagement, or did it undercut doubles specialists who traditionally rely on this stage?

That narrative framed the final, where defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, the only established doubles pair in the 16-team field, faced off against Świątek and Ruud. With many doubles professionals rooting for them, Errani and Vavassori’s victory became a symbolic statement.
“We proved doubles is a strong product,” Vavassori said. “Now we need more visibility and support going forward.”

On the ground, the event had the feel of a festival. DJs hyped lively crowds, Arthur Ashe Stadium drew near-capacity audiences, and star pairings such as Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu received rockstar welcomes. Tickets ranging from $50 to $262 sold strongly, with fans like Hilary Hamm and Maria Segovia admitting the change made them watch a competition they usually skipped.
“Making it a standalone event really caught our attention,” said Segovia. “It brought a different energy.”

Players, too, found the new format refreshing. Britain’s Jack Draper, despite a slip in calling it an “exhibition,” later insisted the competition had a serious edge. “When you’re playing against Iga and Casper and they’re fully locked in, it’s intense,” he said.

Still, not everyone is convinced. Online polls showed 70% of fans opposed the overhaul, some dismissing it as a “farce.” Traditionalists also note that the other three Grand Slams, Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the Australian Open, are unlikely to follow suit, given their more conservative approach and, in some cases, smaller budgets.

For now, though, New York’s gamble looks to have paid off, with doubles purists gaining a symbolic win and organisers delivering an event that generated fresh buzz around the sport. Whether this becomes a blueprint for the future or remains a one-off experiment is the next question the tennis world will watch closely.