While mixed doubles tournaments are fayre of the weeks leading up to tournaments especially in the United States, none have kicked up much debate more like the US Open Mixed Doubles which is due to start on Tuesday 19 August.
Out is the usual Mixed Doubles which allows the leading doubles names (the bone of conjecture to this all) to play with the top male or female counterparts and in is sort of a tournament similar to Tiebreak Tens but lucrative and brings the top names in for big prize money and a use of time during Fan Week.
Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu have been one of the most talked about in the build-up with the main narrative surrounding the tournament around Wimbledon. Both are involved but Jannik Sinner is a possible absentee after his partner Emma Navarro pulled out to play in Monterrey.
Jack Draper has been paired with Jessica Pegula after multiple separate pull outs. Most of the teams apart from Rybakina and Fritz have never played together before adding to the sense of jeopardy surrounding the event. The prize money on offer has been confirmed with $1million going to the winner but the cash will go down further to teams that perform in the quick-fire event.
The runners-up will collect $400,000 to share between them, while semi-finalists are in line for $200,000. Quarter-Finalists will take home $100,000 and teams that lose in the opening round will be handed $20,000. The format of the competition sees a best of three set match played over just four games with a deciding point at deuce and a tie-breaker if the scores a re level at 4-4. The final will be played over three sets with six games required to win and a tie-break to decide if it reaches 6-6.
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori who are current defending US Open mixed doubles champions as well as Taylor Townsend are involved in what are likely the favourites to seal the crown given their experience in the format. While Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina both played normal doubles recently in Washington in a bid to get ready for the tournament.
< h2>Current field (as of 17 August)Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper
Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud
Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz
Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune
Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev
Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev
Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Musetti
Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe
Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic
Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz
Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton
Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori
Stage | Prize |
---|---|
First round | $20,000 |
Quarter-Finalists | $100,000 |
Semi-Finalists | $200,000 |
Finalist | $400,000 |
Winner | $1,000,000 |
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