The 2025 US Open kicked off with a bang, but not without controversy, as its revamped mixed doubles event took center stage at Flushing Meadows. The star-studded tournament, held on August 19 and 20, promised high-energy tennis and blockbuster pairings, yet it left fans and players divided over its bold new format. Among the headline acts, Britain’s Emma Raducanu and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, two Grand Slam champions, teamed up as a wildcard entry, only to face a swift exit in the first round against top seeds Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula. The match, played on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, ended with a decisive 4-2, 4-2 victory for Draper and Pegula, signaling both the promise and the pitfalls of this reimagined event.
This year’s mixed doubles championship, a two-day spectacle held during the US Open’s “Fan Week” before the main singles draw begins on August 24, was designed to lure top singles players with a $1 million prize for the winners. The format, a departure from tradition, features best-of-three sets with shortened four-game sets, no-advantage scoring at deuce, and a 10-point tiebreak in lieu of a third set. The final, however, reverts to standard six-game sets. Played on the tournament’s largest courts—Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong—the event aimed to maximize fan engagement by showcasing tennis’s biggest names. “For the excitement levels and for getting the fans to pack the stadium, it is a cool idea to have that star power come out,” said American doubles legend Mike Bryan, capturing the event’s intent to draw crowds with marquee names like Novak Djokovic, Venus Williams, and Iga Swiatek.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open women’s singles champion, and Alcaraz, the 2022 men’s singles winner, were a dream pairing, their chemistry off the court sparking excitement for their on-court potential. Alcaraz, fresh off a Cincinnati Open victory, had expressed enthusiasm for the event despite a grueling schedule. “The scheduling isn’t the best, playing tomorrow. But the concept of the tournament—I love it,” he said, vowing to “put my best tennis to help Emma get the win.” However, the duo faced a formidable challenge in Draper, Britain’s No. 1, and Pegula, a hometown favorite. Draper’s commanding net play and Pegula’s sharp baseline game proved too much, with key moments like Draper’s forehand winner down the line and Pegula’s clever tramline shot sealing the match. Raducanu showed flashes of brilliance, including a forehand that saved a match point, but the wildcard pair couldn’t overcome their seeded opponents’ synergy.
The event’s format and timing have stirred debate. Critics, including defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, called the changes a “profound injustice” to doubles specialists, as only one pure doubles team made the 16-pair field. Pegula, a member of the WTA Player Council, emphasized the need for better communication between organizers and players. The condensed schedule, with first and second rounds on August 19 and semifinals and final on August 20, also raised concerns, especially for players like Alcaraz, who competed in Cincinnati the day before. Withdrawals further marred the event, with Jannik Sinner and Katerina Siniakova pulling out after Sinner’s illness-forced retirement in the Cincinnati final, replaced by Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison.
Despite the controversies, the event delivered thrilling tennis. Other notable results included Errani and Vavassori defeating Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2, and Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton overcoming Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune 4-2, 5-4 (7-2). Matches like these underscored the event’s appeal, with stars like Djokovic and Olga Danilovic still in contention, facing Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev. The format’s fast-paced nature kept fans on edge, with sudden-death deuce points and tiebreaks injecting unpredictability.
The mixed doubles event, part of a 15-day US Open running from August 18 to September 7, sets the stage for a tournament boasting a $90 million prize pot, with singles champions earning $5 million each. As the main draw looms, with its first rounds spanning August 24–26 and finals on September 6–7, the mixed doubles experiment has sparked both excitement and skepticism. For Raducanu and Alcaraz, the early exit was a disappointment, but the event’s bold vision—marrying star power with a fresh format—ensures it will remain a talking point as Flushing Meadows hosts tennis’s final Grand Slam of 2025.
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