US Open Under Fire After Hugely Controversial Mixed Doubles Change For 2025
News
The 2025 US Open organizers made a significant change to the mixed doubles, and some players and fans have not reacted positively to it.
Usually, the men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and the mixed doubles are completed during the couple of weeks when the Grand Slam is scheduled, giving fans many matches to choose from.
Admittedly, the volume of matches meant that scheduling issues often arose when bad weather prevented play on the courts where there is no roof. This year's US Open devised a scheme that will reduce that burden.
Instead of being played with the singles and other doubles tournaments from August 24th to September 7th, the mixed doubles will be completed during the fan week that precedes it, and be held over two days, August 19th and 20th.
The entry requirements have also been changed. There are 16 teams; eight of them are given entry based on a combined singles ranking, and the other eight are wild cards chosen directly by the tournament organizers.
In addition, the scoring system will be different than what is usually seen at Grand Slams. Sets are only played up to four games, there are no deuces, and there will be a 10-point tiebreak in lieu of a third set.
The final will be played up to six games per set, but the other rules remain the same. Organizers have tried to spin the changes as a positive, saying global viewership will be expanded by the teams playing on television and at the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums.
However, many fans reacted negatively to the news, arguing it is a careless decision that shows no regard to the players who rely on mixed doubles to help them make a living and that it is disrespectful to put it during fan week.
Players who have been successful in mixed doubles also responded angrily to the decision. Jan Zielinski, the 2024 Australian Open mixed doubles champion alongside Hsieh Su-wei, outlined his frustration on X.
"No communication with the players, no thought behind what it means to some peoples careers, no respect to the history and traditions. Sad to see."
Ellen Perez, who has been to the quarterfinal of all four Grand Slams in mixed doubles, furiously wrote in a post on X that the US Open organizers think doubles players are trash and that job opportunities through it are a thing of the past.
"Tell us that you think doubles players are trash, that tradition is overrated and job opportunity is a thing of the past without actually saying it."
Those who back the US Open's move might argue that the format for 2025 will attract more attention and that doubles players need to suck it up and accept ATP and WTA singles players interest fans more.
The decision feels harsh on doubles players. It might make them feel like their mixed doubles Grand Slam titles are devalued and that organizers never viewed them as legitimate. Zielinski and Perez's criticisms will probably not be the last public criticism of the US Open's decision.
