For the 2025 US Open, mixed doubles got a dramatic makeover—touted as a two-day, fan-friendly showpiece packed with A-list singles stars and a massive $1 million prize. Matches now feature shortened sets (first to four games), no-ad scoring, and a 10-point tiebreaker in lieu of a third set to heighten the drama. Even the final maintains six-game sets but retains the fast-paced feel.
The starry draw includes pairings like Carlos Alcaraz with Emma Raducanu, Iga Swiatek with Casper Ruud, and Novak Djokovic teamed with Olga Danilovic. Top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper are also drawing attention as frontrunners.
But the overhaul hasn’t come without controversy. Veteran mixed doubles specialists, including defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, argue the new format places a premium on marketability over doubling specialist skill, creating an exhibition-style feel.
Still, the revamped event delivered thrilling first-round matchups—like Raducanu and Alcaraz falling in straight sets to top seeds Draper and Pegula—showcasing its crowd-pleasing potential. As the semifinals approach, the US Open mixed doubles emerges as both a spectacle and a battleground for tradition versus star-powered reinvention.
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