'Profound injustice' - US Open criticised over mixed doubles change
The US Open has received strong criticism following its decision to hold its mixed doubles competition as a standalone event before the start of the Slam from 2025.
Organisers said it hoped the move would encourage top singles players to participate in the mixed doubles, which will be held over two days in the week leading up to the start of the main draw in New York.
However, the decision has been described as a "profound injustice" by last year's winners Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori amid a backlash from players.
The US Open mixed doubles will be held on 19-20 August, before the hard-court Slam - which from this year is expanding to a 15-day event - begins on Sunday, 24 August.
"Making decisions just following the logic of profit is profoundly wrong in some situations," Italian winners Errani and Vavassori said in a joint statement.
"In the last few weeks we received the news that the US Open mixed doubles tournament will be completely turned upside down, cancelled and replaced with a pseudo-exhibition focused only on entertainment and show.
"We see it as a profound injustice that disrespects an entire category of players. We don't know at the moment if we'll have the chance to defend our title but we hope this remains an isolated case."
The US Open organisers said the change would allow "the sport's biggest stars" to participate in mixed doubles and claimed "excitement is high among the game's stars who have already expressed intent to compete" in the new format.
American players Taylor Fritz, the men's world number four, and Jessica Pegula, fifth in women's rankings, have both expressed their intention to participate, while Holger Rune replied to the US Open's announcement on X saying "Interesting".
'No respect to history and traditions'
The US Open's revamped mixed doubles event will feature 16 teams - the top eight in the rankings plus eight wildcard entrants - and a reduced scoring system.
Just four games will be required to win a set in matches before the final, with no-advantage scoring (four points will be needed to win a game) and 10-point match tiebreaks instead of a third set throughout.
US Tennis Association (USTA) director Lew Sherr said: "We'll be scheduling mixed doubles on the centre stage and enabling more fans worldwide to enjoy the thrill of watching their favourite stars compete for this coveted title."
But there has been a backlash from current and former mixed doubles players.
Kristina Mladenovic, winner of multiple Slam titles, said the decision was "terribly shocking".
Australian player Elen Perez replied to the US Open on X, saying: "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."
Poland's Jan Zielinski, who won mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon last year, said: "No communication with the players, no thought behind what it means to some people's careers, no respect to the history and traditions. Sad to see."
Former doubles world number one Paul McNamee said the changes would devalue the US Open mixed doubles title to the status of an exhibition event, and this year's tournament "will not produce a bona fide mixed doubles winner".
