The 2025 US Open is set to ignite Flushing Meadows with a reimagined mixed doubles championship, a bold move by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to elevate the event into a must-watch extravaganza. Kicking off on August 19, a week before the main singles draw, this revamped tournament promises high-octane action, blockbuster pairings, and a jaw-dropping $1 million prize for the winning team. Held over two days at the iconic Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums, the event is designed to captivate fans during the US Open’s Fan Week, blending star power with a fresh, fast-paced format.
Unlike previous years, where mixed doubles played second fiddle to singles and doubles main draws, the 2025 edition is a standalone spectacle, condensed into a 16-team knockout format. Eight teams have secured direct entry based on their combined singles rankings, while eight others, including high-profile wildcards, add flair to the lineup. Among the headline acts are Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, teaming up with world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, and British No. 1 Jack Draper pairing with American star Jessica Pegula. Other notable teams include Italians Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Musetti, who earned a direct entry after withdrawals, and wildcards like Venus Williams with Reilly Opelka and Novak Djokovic with Olga Danilovic. “As a player who enjoys competing in doubles, I’m excited for the opportunity to play the 2025 U.S. Open mixed doubles Championship during the first week,” Pegula said, echoing the enthusiasm of players drawn to the event’s innovative structure.
The format itself is a game-changer, designed for drama and accessibility. Early rounds feature best-of-three sets played to four games, with no-ad scoring and tiebreakers at 4-4. If sets are split, a 10-point match tiebreak decides the outcome, ensuring quick, intense battles. The final, however, elevates the stakes, adopting a best-of-three-set format with sets to six games, tiebreakers at 6-6, and a 10-point tiebreak in lieu of a third set. “This is something we’re really excited about,” said USTA CEO Lew Sherr. “I’m hopeful this becomes a new franchise and tentpole in tennis, not just at the U.S. Open, but elsewhere and throughout the year to attract more folks.” The event’s primetime ESPN2 broadcast, with additional coverage on ESPNEWS and ESPN+, aims to showcase these star-studded clashes to a global audience.
The $1 million winners’ prize—a fivefold increase from the $200,000 awarded to 2024 champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori—underscores the USTA’s ambition to lure top singles players. The total prize pool for mixed doubles, part of the US Open’s record-breaking $90 million purse, reflects a 20% increase from 2024, with even early-round losers benefiting from double-digit percentage boosts. However, the shift has sparked controversy, particularly among doubles specialists. Errani and Vavassori, the defending champions, called the changes a “profound injustice” and a “pseudo-exhibition,” arguing that prioritizing singles rankings over doubles expertise sidelines dedicated doubles players. “There’s some that will be disappointed that they won’t have the opportunity to compete in this event,” Sherr acknowledged, noting that last year’s mixed doubles prize money has been redirected to bolster men’s and women’s doubles purses.
The event’s timing, starting at 11 a.m. ET on August 19 with first-round and quarter-final matches, followed by semi-finals and the final on August 20 from 7 p.m. ET, aligns with Fan Week’s festive atmosphere. Yet, the compressed schedule and high-profile entries have raised eyebrows. Withdrawals, including Paula Badosa (Draper’s original partner), Emma Navarro (Jannik Sinner’s teammate), and Aryna Sabalenka with Grigor Dimitrov, have reshaped the field, with Sinner racing to find a new partner by August 17. Despite these hiccups, the USTA remains confident. “We were confident that we would be able to get the top players in the game excited about this unique opportunity,” Sherr said. “Seeing the teams that have already put their names on the entry list makes us all incredibly excited.”
For fans, the event promises a thrilling warm-up to the US Open’s main draws, offering a rare chance to see singles superstars like Alcaraz, Raducanu, and Djokovic in a dynamic doubles setting. While the format may alienate some purists, its focus on big names and bite-sized matches could redefine mixed doubles as a fan favorite. As the courts of Flushing Meadows prepare to host this electrifying showdown, one thing is clear: the 2025 US Open mixed doubles is poised to serve up a spectacle that’s as lucrative as it is unmissable.
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