US Open Tennis
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The 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles has been completely revamped to attract younger tennis fans. With a faster format, a record £790,000 ($1 million) prize pot and top singles stars teaming up, organisers are creating fresh excitement around this traditionally secondary event.

A New Fast-Paced Format to Captivate Viewers

Mixed doubles takes place during 'Fan Week' on 19–20 August, just before the singles main draw starts on 24 August. The draw has been cut from 32 to 16 teams, half selected by combined singles rankings and the rest awarded wild cards.

Matches now use a best-of-three short set format. Each set is first to four games, with no-ad scoring and a tiebreak at 4–4. If sets are split, a 10-point match tiebreak decides the winner. The final returns to six-game sets but keeps no-ad scoring and the match tiebreak if needed.

Prize money has risen from around £126,000 ($160,000) last year to £790,000 ($1 million), a fivefold increase that elevates mixed doubles closer to headline status.

Star-Studded Teams Bring Fresh Appeal

The line-up features tennis superstars rarely seen in doubles. Emma Raducanu partners Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek teams with Casper Ruud and Jannik Sinner plays alongside Emma Navarro. Other notable pairs include Elena Rybakina with Taylor Fritz, Belinda Bencic with Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev with Mirra Andreeva.

Venus Williams, aged 45, competes with Reilly Opelka, who praised her, saying: 'She is a great friend outside the Tour' and highlighted her enduring competitive spirit.

Mixed Reactions from Tennis Pros

While many welcome the change, some doubles specialists are critical. Reigning champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori called the new format 'a profound injustice', claiming it sidelines dedicated doubles players in favour of marketable singles stars. Wimbledon mixed doubles champion Katerina Siniakova labelled the change 'a shame', and Jan Zieliński expressed disappointment over the lack of player consultation.

This debate highlights tension between expanding the sport's appeal and protecting doubles specialists' careers.

Why Younger Fans Are Engaged

The new format suits younger viewers who favour quick, high-energy entertainment. Short sets and no-ad scoring keep matches fast and dramatic. High-profile singles stars teaming up add star power and attract crossover interest.

Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram thrive on short, emotionally charged clips, and moments like Venus Williams competing at 45 generate wide online discussion. The £790,000 ($1 million) prize pot adds real stakes, giving every match a sense of urgency.

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Implications for Tennis's Future

Mixed doubles has historically been overshadowed. The US Open's revamped format places it in the spotlight during prime 'Fan Week', signalling a bet on growth.

If viewer ratings and engagement increase, other Grand Slams may adopt similar approaches. Yet, the challenge remains balancing spectacle with sporting fairness, ensuring the format benefits both fans and professional doubles players.

A Bold Experiment Capturing Attention

The 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles blends speed, star appeal and prize money to redefine the discipline for modern audiences. The move has sparked both excitement and controversy but undeniably put mixed doubles back on the map.

As Opelka remarked: 'Playing with Venus is something special'. For many younger fans, that unique combination of legendary players and fresh format creates compelling reasons to watch.

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