The 2025 US Open’s revamped mixed doubles tournament, set to dazzle fans with a star-studded lineup, is facing a wave of uncertainty as high-profile withdrawals threaten to dim its shine. Scheduled for August 19-20 at Flushing Meadows, the innovative two-day event, designed to spotlight top singles players with a $1 million prize for the winners, has already lost key pairings like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa, as well as Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and British No. 1 Jack Draper. With the Cincinnati Open finals looming just a day earlier on August 18, speculation is mounting that blockbuster teams like Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro, and others may also pull out, prioritizing their singles campaigns. “This exhibition event will be great fun, but it is not a Grand Slam and it shouldn’t be viewed as such,” said respected coach Barry Fulcher, reflecting a sentiment that underscores the event’s controversial format.
The reimagined mixed doubles championship, featuring 16 teams—eight qualifying via combined singles rankings and eight via wild cards—promised a spectacle with pairings like Raducanu and Alcaraz, Sinner and Navarro, Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov, and Novak Djokovic with Olga Danilovic. Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, and Alcaraz, a five-time Grand Slam winner, have generated the most buzz, with the Spaniard revealing he personally requested the partnership. “I just asked Emma if she wants to play doubles with me. I made that special request,” Alcaraz said, laughing, “She’s going to be the boss!” Raducanu, who took time to confirm, quipped, “Gotta keep them on their toes!” Their friendship, forged during their 2021 breakout runs, adds intrigue, but their combined ranking of 38 means they rely on a wild card, complicating their participation.
Sinner, the world No. 1, and Navarro, ranked No. 9, boast the highest combined ranking at 10, securing direct entry. However, Sinner’s recent withdrawal from the Canadian Open due to fatigue, coupled with his intense preparation for the US Open singles title defense, raises doubts about his commitment. “I’m still happy with this trophy,” Sinner said after his Roland Garros final loss to Alcaraz, hinting at his focus on major titles over side events. Similarly, Swiatek and Ruud, with a combined ranking of 24, and Sabalenka and Dimitrov face scheduling conflicts, as players reaching the Cincinnati finals may struggle to rush to New York for matches the next day. “I’d be very, very surprised if a lot of those pairs end up taking to the court,” Fulcher predicted, citing the grueling schedule.
The withdrawals of Tsitsipas and Badosa, rumored to have ended their off-court relationship, and Zheng and Draper, sidelined by Zheng’s elbow injury, have already reshaped the field. The inclusion of doubles specialists like Katerina Siniakova and Marcelo Arevalo, who were denied direct entry despite their pedigree, has sparked criticism. “When two world number ones in doubles don’t get into the tournament, there’s probably nothing more to say about it,” Siniakova told CANAL+Sport, highlighting the format’s bias toward singles stars. Andy Roddick, while praising the event’s appeal, acknowledged its impact: “Now, is it taking jobs away from doubles players who kind of run this side tour? Yeah, it is.”
The tournament’s format—best-of-three sets with four-game sets, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point tiebreak instead of a third set—aims to attract casual fans, but the backlash from doubles purists and the risk of further withdrawals threaten its credibility. With 25 teams vying for 16 spots, the USTA faces tough decisions on wild cards, potentially favoring high-profile pairs like Raducanu and Alcaraz or Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios, who add star power despite their unranked combined status. “I’m a fan of innovation and trying to bring new things into tennis, but I don’t agree with calling it a Grand Slam event,” Fulcher added, echoing concerns about its exhibition-like feel.
As the US Open approaches, the mixed doubles event hangs in the balance. Will Raducanu and Alcaraz, whose “Alcaranu” partnership has fans dreaming of a fairytale run, prioritize doubles over singles? Will Sinner, fresh off a Wimbledon title, risk fatigue? With the singles tournament starting August 24, the tight schedule may force tough choices, leaving fans to wonder if this star-driven experiment will live up to its hype or fizzle under the weight of withdrawals.
Leave a Reply