U.S. Open 2025: Revamped Mixed Doubles Format Sparks Debate

The 2025 U.S. Open Tennis Tournament is set to introduce a reimagined mixed doubles format during its "Fan Week" on August 19 and 20 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. This initiative aims to attract top singles players and enhance fan engagement ahead of the main singles and doubles events scheduled from August 24 to September 7.

The revamped mixed doubles competition will feature a 16-team draw, reduced from the traditional 32 teams. Eight teams will gain direct entry based on their combined singles rankings, while the remaining eight will receive wild-card entries. Early-round matches will be best-of-three sets played to four games, with no-ad scoring and tiebreakers at 4-all. If teams split sets, a 10-point match tiebreak will determine the winner. The final will be best-of-three sets to six games, maintaining no-ad scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak if needed. The winning team will receive a record $1 million prize, a significant increase from previous years.

Lew Sherr, executive director and CEO of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), stated that the changes aim "to appeal to more fans and grow the fan base around the world... to have the biggest names in the sport participating in doubles." The USTA hopes that by modifying the format and increasing the prize money, more top singles players will be incentivized to participate in the mixed doubles event, thereby elevating its profile and drawing greater spectator interest.

However, the modifications have drawn criticism from doubles specialists. Defending mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori expressed their concerns, describing the decision as a "profound injustice" that disrespected "an entire category of players." They argue that the new format prioritizes entertainment over traditional competition, potentially marginalizing players who have dedicated their careers to doubles play.

The overall prize money for the 2025 U.S. Open has reached $90 million, marking a 20% increase from the $75 million offered in 2024. This boost comes amid ongoing calls from ATP and WTA players for fairer revenue sharing across the four Grand Slam tournaments. Additionally, the U.S. Open will expand to 15 days starting in 2025, shifting to a Sunday start for the first time since the Open era began in 1968. This change aligns the U.S. Open with other Grand Slam events like the Australian Open and the French Open, which moved to Sunday starts earlier.

The introduction of the new mixed doubles format reflects a broader trend in professional sports to balance tradition with innovation in order to attract a wider audience. While the USTA's initiative seeks to enhance fan engagement and elevate the profile of mixed doubles, it also raises questions about the impact on doubles specialists and the traditional structure of Grand Slam events. As the 2025 U.S. Open approaches, the tennis community will be closely watching how these changes unfold and their implications for the sport's future.