'My heart is bleeding': Recapping doubles specialists' reactions to US Open's 'dishonest' mixed doubles act

2024 US Open mixed doubles champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani. (Getty/Jamie Squire)

Whether the United States Tennis Association (USTA) anticipated immense backlash after announcing its new mixed doubles format will forever remain unknown.

But when doubles specialists discovered that they were out of the frame, it was always going to cause uproar.

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Back in February, the USTA unveiled a controversial revamped format, deciding to include big-name singles players who would draw bums on seats and eyeballs on screens in favour of the majority of doubles players.

In a 16-team event, the tournament is set to run for two days during fan week, with games reduced from six games to four in each set (excluding the final), sudden death deuce at 40-40, and a 10-point third set tiebreak, ensuring matches are fast-paced.

Entrants have dropped like flies in the lead-up to the event, including Aryna Sabalenka, Paula Badosa, Emma Navarro, Jasmine Paolini, Nick Kyrgios and, most likely, Jannik Sinner after retiring ill in the Cincinnati final.

Reigning US Open mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are two of the few doubles specialists who have a shot at the title, but they required a wildcard due to the top eight seeds selected via a combined singles ranking.

"It would be like if, at the Olympics, they didn't let the actual high jumpers participate, and instead had basketball players compete in the high jump because it's more 'interesting'," Errani said ahead of her mixed doubles campaign with Vavassori.

"If you want to do that, I guess you can, but you can't award them medals. You can't have a Grand Slam doubles (trophy) and not let doubles players take part... You're excluding them from their sport. It's dishonest."

Speaking to tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg on the eve of the unprecedented tournament, Vavassori told Bounces, "I like to beat singles players in doubles, to go against the narrative…I don't understand the people when they talk s**t about something and then they want to play."

Five-time mixed doubles Slam champion Jamie Murray, brother of Andy, chimed in with his thoughts about the US Open's contentious move.

"People are obviously excited because it's the best men and women on court together, which is a cool product," he told The Independent at Wimbledon last month.

"But a lot of doubles players are annoyed. The prize money gap is so big because that money is going to the very top end of the game. Of course, they deserve it, but it's like 'come on, give us a chance to win.' It's only four times a year we get to play mixed doubles.

"They're trying to merge sports and entertainment together, and I'm sure it will be a success, but I think for a lot of doubles players, there's a feeling that this money could have gone to the wider player group, rather than to the stars who are already being paid a fortune.

"It's taken away both a potential earning opportunity and a chance to win a Grand Slam."

Spare a thought for doubles world No.2 Kateřina Siniaková, who won't be eligible to pair with a new partner per tournament rules given the inevitable withdrawal of Sinner.

"I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if I won't get [a wildcard], actually. I will just keep it like this," she told The Tennis Channel last month before gaining entry, giving herself a "five out of 10" chance to play mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows.

Sem Verbeek, who partnered Siniaková to win the 2025 Wimbledon mixed doubles crown, can't help but have mixed reactions.

"I'm not going to actively root against it for it to not be a success," he told BBC Sport.

"The positive I can think of is that there's going to be more people that can see the top singles stars earlier in the tournament when they are maybe a bit more accessible to the public.

"But as doubles athletes, my heart is bleeding."

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The money invested into the tournament is a clear driving force.

Errani and Vavassori's prize pool of US$200,000 for taking home the trophy has been boosted to seven figures (US$1 million).

Two-time US Open singles semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe recently admitted, "We're going, no matter what", when referring to the prize money at stake.

Tournament director Stacey Allaster quashed suggestions about the mixed doubles event being viewed as an exhibition.

"Let's be absolutely crystal clear: This is a Grand Slam championship. It is not an exhibition," Allaster clarified.

"We're sympathetic to the doubles specialists who don't like this change... (But) we know that when fans see top players competing, this is going to inspire more fans to not only attend but to play tennis, and it's ultimately going to grow the sport."

The opening day of mixed doubles action commences at 1am, Wednesday August 20 AEST.

Watch the US Open Mixed Doubles tournament exclusively on Stan Sport.

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