The controversial US Open mixed doubles event has now concluded, with Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori successfully defending their title.
The US Open shocked tennis fans with its revamped mixed doubles event, which has taken place during Fan Week.
It involved a $1million prize for the winners in a bid to encourage singles players to take part in New York, which many did.
Errani and Vavassori criticised the US Open for its new-look event, but the duo went on to lift the trophy for the second successive year.
The only recognised doubles players in the draw, they defeated Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7, [10-6] in the US Open mixed doubles final.
Four-time Grand Slam champion slams US Open mixed doubles event
Following their victory, there have been calls for more doubles specialists at the US Open next year by Jan Zielinski after he missed out on a place at the tournament.
And four-time Grand Slam doubles champion Mate Pavic has now added his take, writing on Instagram: “Well done to Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori for winning the exhibition mixed event at the US Open as the only ‘doubles team’ in the draw among the best singles players in the world!
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“Thank you US Open for disrespecting the doubles game and the tradition and maybe a new topic for a next [Nothing Major] podcast for John Isner, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson and Jack Sock. Respect the doubles at least a bit!”
US Open mixed doubles labelled ‘exhibition’ after Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori win title
The outrage certainly doesn’t end with Pavic, who has completed the Golden Grand Slam in doubles and once reached number one in the world rankings.
Reacting to the success of Errani and Vavassori, one-time Grand Slam doubles winner Edouard Roger-Vasselin wrote on X: “Well done for winning this amazing exhibition. Good luck for the real tournament next week.”
Continuing his thoughts in a lengthy discussion with a fan who raised the issue of money, the Frenchman noted: “I’m not talking about money. I’m pointing out that it’s really a shame not to have allowed the best doubles players in the world to participate in mixed doubles. And in the end, the only ‘specialist’ pair wins the tournament.
“In any case, the highest-ranked doubles players (so the best ones) couldn’t participate in the mixed event, and yet the only team of ‘specialists’ won the tournament. So I think that’s a shame.”
Errani and Vavassori overcame Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz in round one, before knocking out Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals.
The experienced Italian duo then defeated Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison in the semifinals before their one-hour, 32-minute final win.
It remains to be seen what route organisers take with the revamped event going forward, with fans having a mixed reaction to the US Open mixed doubles.
Fan Week in New York has since continued with qualifiers, while the main draw action at Flushing Meadows starts on Sunday.
