The 2025 U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Championship, set to ignite the courts of Flushing Meadows on August 19 and 20, promises not only electrifying tennis but also a substantial financial reward for its competitors. With a revamped format designed to spotlight the sport’s biggest names, the tournament offers a staggering $1 million prize for the winning pair, a dramatic increase from the $200,000 awarded in 2024. This lucrative purse, combined with a star-studded lineup featuring pairs like Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, and Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper, has elevated the event to a must-watch spectacle during the U.S. Open’s Fan Week.
The tournament’s prize money structure is designed to reward progress at every stage, ensuring that even early exits come with a financial upside. The champions will split $1 million, translating to $500,000 per player, while the runners-up will share $400,000, or $200,000 each. Semifinalists can expect to divide $200,000 per pair ($100,000 per player), quarterfinalists will pocket $100,000 per team ($50,000 each), and those falling in the round of 16 will still earn $20,000 to split ($10,000 per player). This tiered system, with a total purse significantly larger than in previous years, reflects the USTA’s commitment to making the event a high-stakes affair. “We wanted to find a way to showcase the world’s best men and women competing with and against one another,” said USTA CEO Lew Sherr, emphasizing the event’s innovative approach to engaging fans and players alike.
For Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, the wildcard pairing that has sparked global excitement, the potential to claim the $1 million prize adds an extra layer of intrigue to their campaign. Alcaraz, the world No. 2 and a five-time Grand Slam singles champion, personally recruited Raducanu, the 2021 U.S. Open women’s champion, for what he called a “dream” partnership. “I was thinking that I couldn’t play better unless it was with Emma,” Alcaraz shared, highlighting the chemistry they hope to bring to the court. Their first-round clash against top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper, who earned direct entry based on their combined singles rankings, sets the stage for a thrilling opener. Pegula, a 2025 U.S. Open women’s finalist, and Draper, Britain’s rising star, are poised to leverage their home-crowd support and formidable singles prowess. “There’s always quality in Sinner and Alcaraz, who don’t play a lot of doubles, but they can put returns where they want,” noted commentator Naomi Cavaday, suggesting that singles stars like Alcaraz could adapt swiftly to the doubles format.
The financial allure extends to other high-profile pairs, such as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Katerina Siniakova, who replaced Emma Navarro after her withdrawal. Siniakova, a doubles specialist with 10 major titles, brings expertise to complement Sinner’s singles dominance. Their potential quarterfinal matchup against Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton, another fan-favorite wildcard duo, could be a highlight, with both teams eyeing the substantial prize money. “As a player who enjoys competing in doubles, I’m excited for the opportunity to play the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship,” Pegula said, echoing the enthusiasm of many players for the event’s new format and rewards.
The tournament’s structure—best-of-three sets to four games through the semifinals, with no-ad scoring and a 10-point super-tiebreaker for the third set—ensures fast-paced, high-energy matches. The final, played to six-game sets with tiebreakers at 6-6, adds a traditional touch to the championship match. Held in the prestigious Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums, the event is designed to maximize visibility, with ESPN2 and ESPN+ broadcasting every moment. “The Mixed Doubles Championship is going to be one of the main attractions of the U.S. Open this year,” said Tournament Director Stacey Allaster. “It’s going to be fast-paced. It’s going to be competitive. It’s going to be fun.”
Despite the excitement, the format has drawn criticism from doubles specialists like defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who called it a “pseudo-exhibition focused only on entertainment and show.” Yet, the inclusion of nine Grand Slam singles champions and the hefty prize money have undeniable appeal. For players like Alcaraz, Raducanu, Pegula, and Draper, the chance to split $1 million while competing alongside and against the sport’s elite is a golden opportunity. As the two-day extravaganza unfolds, the question remains: who will claim the million-dollar prize and etch their names into U.S. Open history?
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