“There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” While these words, Oscar Wilde was not referring to mixed doubles tennis.
But still his thought-provoking quote could easily summarise the latest stir at the US Open, where the mixed doubles format was given a dramatic makeover this year — and, importantantly, it got everyone talking.
Long perceived as peripheral to the main competition, mixed doubles has often fought for recognition.
Traditionally held during finals weekend, the event would pass by almost unnoticed, with little attention from fans or broadcasters. Determined to change that, organisers introduced a new format designed to capture wider interest. The changes included enticing the biggest singles names with lucrative prize money, shortening matches, and staging the competition before the main draws began.
The result? A flood of conversation across the sport — and a sharp divide in opinion.
“I know it created a lot of reaction and [it was] somewhat bold to do it,” said three-time Grand Slam singles finalist Casper Ruud, who partnered six-time major champion Iga Swiatek in the event. The pair reached the final, and Ruud admitted, “You can’t argue that it’s not been great for the fans.”
From a crowd perspective, the revamp was a success. Fans flocked to see top-ranked singles stars team up in a rare spectacle. The big names guaranteed attention, something mixed doubles has rarely enjoyed in its long history.
But the move also carried a cost. By prioritising marquee singles players, many specialist doubles teams were excluded from the 16-team event. Critics argued that the shake-up effectively sidelined 138 years of tradition, stripping career doubles players of their shot at Grand Slam glory.
That tension came to a head in the final itself. Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, the defending champions and the only recognised doubles pairing in the draw, found themselves carrying the hopes of the doubles community. They were pitted against Swiatek and Ruud — a star-studded pairing that had never played together before this week.
Australian doubles player Ellen Perez summed up the sentiment of many specialists when she admitted she had “never felt more Italian,” throwing her support behind Errani and Vavassori. Their victory proved a symbolic moment, a stand for doubles specialists at a time when their place in the sport feels increasingly fragile.
“We showed that doubles is a great product and in the future we need more marketing and visibility,” Vavassori said after the win, directly appealing to tournament organisers to protect the discipline.
The experiment clearly succeeded in generating buzz. It revitalised mixed doubles as a talking point, created drama, and attracted fresh attention to an often-overlooked event. Yet the clash of narratives remains unresolved: is mixed doubles better served as a platform for superstars to showcase their versatility, or as a stage where doubles experts can truly shine?
With the revamped format expected to return next year, the debate is unlikely to fade. For now, mixed doubles has exactly what it craved most — the spotlight.
Pic Credit (Screen grab: YouTube US Open Tennis Championships)
