From protest to podium: Italians shine in revamped US Open mixed doubles

Dubai: When the US Open mixed doubles event was overhauled this year, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori feared they wouldn’t even get in. Organisers had revamped the format to spotlight singles superstars, cutting traditional doubles pairings out of the picture.

On Wednesday night, those same Italians were smiling, hugging, and holding a $1 million cheque after defending their crown in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium. They beat No 3 seeds Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7, (10-6) to become the first team since 2019 to win back-to-back US Open mixed doubles titles.

The victory capped a whirlwind run in which they won four matches over two days in the shortened, TV-friendly format. For players who once voiced strong objections to the shake-up, it was a moment of vindication.

“We showed it works — the stadium was packed, the people were going crazy,” Vavassori said after the final. For him and Errani, who had questioned whether doubles specialists had a place in the new system, the atmosphere was rare and unforgettable.

The USTA’s gamble had been controversial. The 16-team draw included eight pairs chosen by combined singles rankings, while the rest were wild cards. Matches were shortened to four-game sets in the early rounds, squeezing the event into just four days. Critics called it an exhibition, but organisers hoped the presence of names like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Naomi Osaka, and Emma Raducanu would bring attention. Most of those stars lost on the opening day — yet fans kept coming.

Ruud admitted the experiment was risky but hard to ignore. Even losing semi-finalists felt the difference. “Any time you get a full crowd like this, how can we keep that going?” said Christian Harrison, who lost with Danielle Collins in the semi-finals.

By the end, though, it wasn’t the marquee singles players but the established doubles team who stole the spotlight. Vavassori’s imposing presence at the net and Errani’s court craft proved too much even for Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam singles champion, and Ruud, a three-time major finalist.

For Errani, who already owns a career doubles Grand Slam and an Olympic gold with Jasmine Paolini, the win was about more than just the record $1 million prize — double last year’s. “This one is also for the doubles players who couldn’t be here,” she said.

Swiatek and Ruud collected $400,000 for finishing runners-up, but the night belonged to the Italians. From early complaints to wide smiles, Errani and Vavassori showed that even in a tournament built for singles stars, doubles champions can still own the stage.

— With inputs from AP