US Open Launches Star-Studded $1M Mixed Doubles Event

The 2025 U.S. Open mixed doubles championship has been significantly revamped to attract top singles players, with the event now featuring only 16 teams competing over two days during Fan Week, prior to the main singles draw. The tournament boasts a $1 million prize pool and a fast-paced format with short sets, no-ad scoring, and tiebreakers, replacing the traditional longer matches. High-profile entrants include nine of the top 10 women's and men's singles players such as Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu, Novak Djokovic, and Aryna Sabalenka, though some doubles specialists, including defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, criticized the changes. The USTA's goal is to elevate the mixed doubles event's visibility and excitement by leveraging star power and fan engagement, with matches to be held at Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums and broadcast on ESPN networks. The entry deadline is July 28, after which the top eight teams by combined singles ranking will qualify directly, with the remaining eight teams receiving wild cards. Despite some initial fan and player criticism, the early entry list suggests strong support from singles players, indicating a promising new chapter for mixed doubles at the U.S. Open.