Anna 
The US Open’s sweeping changes to its mixed doubles format for 2025 have drawn sharp criticism, with Australian tennis star Ellen Perez leading the backlash. The tournament has moved the competition to fan week, a week before the main singles draw begins, and significantly revamped the structure. While the changes have drawn attention with a prize money boost and new match format, they have sparked anger among lower-ranked players, who feel marginalized by the new setup.
In a bold move to elevate mixed doubles, the US Open has announced a substantial increase in prize money. Last year’s champions, Italian duo Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, earned $200,000 for their victory. In 2025, the winners will take home a much more substantial $1 million, a $1.6 million Australian dollar incentive designed to attract top-tier competitors.
Additionally, the format changes include shortened matches: best-of-three sets played to four games, with a super tiebreak in the third set. The tournament will also reduce the number of pairs in the competition to just 16, halving the previous field. Eight pairs will be directly entered based on their combined singles rankings, while the other eight spots will be filled through wildcards. The aim is to attract higher-ranked singles players, offering them a chance to compete in the mixed doubles without conflicting with their singles schedules.
While the prize money boost and timing shift may appeal to top singles players, the new format has sparked anger within the tennis community, especially among lower-ranked competitors. Many rely on earnings from doubles and mixed doubles to sustain their careers, and with fewer available spots in the mixed doubles draw, these players fear being excluded from the prestigious tournament altogether.
Among those voicing concerns is Perez, the world No. 9 in doubles, who has expressed frustration with the format changes. As a player unranked in singles, Perez is concerned that the new rules prioritize singles players over doubles specialists. She is not alone in her criticism. Last year’s mixed doubles champions, Errani and Vavassori, also condemned the changes, calling them “disrespectful.” Meanwhile, doubles legend Kristina Mladenovic, a nine-time Grand Slam champion, voiced her shock, emphasizing that the change seemed driven by commercial interests rather than the sport’s tradition.
The response from the US Tennis Association (USTA) has been one of optimism. CEO Lew Sherr defended the changes, stating that they were designed to generate greater excitement and appeal to a broader audience. “The reason behind this is to appeal to more fans and grow the fan base around the world,” Sherr said. “Having the biggest names in the sport participating in doubles is exciting, and we believe this format will showcase that in an even more engaging way.”
As the 2025 US Open approaches, the tennis world watches closely to see how these changes will impact the mixed doubles event and the players who rely on it.
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