U.S. Open’s sudden changes called a “profound injustice”

The 2025 mixed doubles event at the U.S. Open will occur earlier than usual to highlight some of tennis’ top stars. However, this change has upset some players. Normally held with the other singles and doubles matches at Flushing Meadows, the mixed doubles will occur on August 19 and 20, 2025, ahead of the main tournament start.

The idea is to have top players join in the mixed doubles, drawing more fans and giving broadcasters a chance to feature this event before the main singles matches start on August 24. Some players, including defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, seem upset by the change.

They referred to it as a “pseudo-exhibition” and expressed feelings of “profound injustice,” suggesting it “disrespects” a whole group of players. While certain tennis fans are excited about the early dates of the match, there are also some, including California online sports betting enthusiasts, who empathize with the players.

“Last year, to win the U.S. Open together was one of the greatest moments in our careers,” Errani and Vavassori said. “We felt unbelievable warmth and support from the Italian fans and this made us happy. Mixed doubles are not very well known, that’s true, but everything that’s part of a Slam competition–the History behind every single result–is unique and it’s a great honor to become part of it.”

They also mentioned that the feeling of returning the next year to see one’s name on the trophy board is often described as one of the most special moments in the sport. They believe it brings a sense of being remembered as a small part of an important tournament.

Errani and Vavassori were not alone in their concerns about how doubles players might be ignored in the new format. Jan Zieliński, a two-time mixed doubles champion from Poland, mentioned a lack of communication with players and suggested that there seemed to be little thought about the impact on careers.

In the new format, it’s expected that eight of the 16 teams will be chosen based on their combined singles rankings, while the other eight will receive wild cards. The scoring system will also change, featuring sets played to four games (except for the final) and no-ad scoring, where the point after deuce wins the game.

There is also a deciding 10-point tiebreake instead of a third set. All matches are set to take place in Arthur Ashe Stadium or Louis Armstrong Stadium, which are the main courts at the U.S. Open.

Top American singles stars Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz seem to have embraced the change in a U.S. Open press release, expressing excitement about the chance to compete in mixed doubles in 2025. The press release mentioned that fans, players, partners, and broadcasters could benefit from the new mixed doubles format.

It also hinted that the best players in the world would have a chance to compete for the title and a large prize without having to balance mixed doubles with their other matches. The team that wins is expected to receive a $1 million prize, which is a significant rise from the $200,000 given to Errani and Vavassori in 2024.

“By giving the competition its own spotlight, we’re elevating mixed doubles to put an even greater focus on the incredible talent we have across the sport,” USTA executive director and CEO Lew Sherr said, hyping up tennis fans, including California online sports betting enthusiasts.