Tennis News | A new chapter for mixed doubles?

Is this the start of a new era for tennis?

The US Open will launch a stand-alone mixed doubles championship on 19 and 20 August, days before the Grand Slam proper begins in New York.

Author | Liam C

Sixteen pairs are set to contest the inaugural event, with seven duos gaining direct entry on the strength of their combined singles ranking and the remainder handed wildcards. 

Among the headline pairings, Emma Raducanu will team up with Wimbledon runner-up Carlos Alcaraz, while men’s world number one Jannik Sinner will partner the experienced Katerina Siniakova.

Shortened format confirmed

Matches leading up to the final will adopt a condensed format. Four games will be enough to secure a set, games will be decided by no-advantage scoring, and a 10-point match tie-break will replace a deciding set. Play will take place across the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums.

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Player criticism and organiser defence

When the US Open revealed a reimagined mixed doubles event, with a shortened scoring format in the early rounds and a new place on the calendar before the singles draws, opinion was divided.

Last year’s champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori condemned the decision in February, describing it as a “profound injustice” and accusing officials of prioritising profit over players. Tournament chiefs, however, defended the move, arguing it creates greater incentives for leading singles players to enter the mixed doubles.

Prize money breakdown

The prize fund for the new championship is considerable. Winners will collect $1m (£736,880), with runners-up earning $400,000 (£294,729). Semi-finalists will each take home $200,000 (£147,364), quarter-finalists $100,000 (£73,682), and those eliminated in the opening round will still receive $20,000 (£14,736).

The need for evolution in sport

The shake-up to the US Open mixed doubles echoes cricket’s experiment with The Hundred, a competition introduced with shorter formats and altered rules designed to draw in fresh audiences. Both sports are searching for ways to evolve, balancing tradition with innovation in the hope of attracting new fans and broadcasters. As with cricket, tennis risks dividing opinion between those who see change as necessary progress and those who view it as a step too far.