U.S. Open mixed doubles event could be a game-changer

Mixed doubles has not been relevant since Roger Federer and Martina Hingis represented Switzerland at the Hopman Cup, or when Steffi Graf and Boris Becker did the same for Germany in the early 1990s.

The U.S. Open is attempting to revitalize the format by offering both riches and a platform to shine under the brightest lights.

On Tuesday, the organizers of the American major announced that high-profile names, including Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, will participate in a mixed doubles event between August 19 and 20. 

The tournament, preceding the main singles draw, will showcase 16 teams, including the top eight teams based on their combined singles rankings (ATP and WTA) as well as eight wild-card entries. 

The teams will vie for a prize of $1M while playing at the two largest stadiums of the U.S. Open: Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadium.

While Sinner will team up with American world No. 9 Emma Navarro, Alcaraz is entered with 2021 U.S. Open winner Emma Raducanu. Djokovic will play alongside fellow Serbian Olga Danilovic, and teenage prodigy Mirra Andreeva will pair with fellow Russian Daniil Medvedev.

The tourney will also feature All-American duos such as Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul, Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton. Furthermore, real-life couple Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas will compete for the $1M prize as well.

The USTA deserves kudos for attempting to rekindle fan interest in mixed doubles. According to Lew Sherr, the USTA's CEO and executive director, several top-ranked players voluntarily entered the mix, which left the organizers pleasantly surprised. 

"...We were confident that we would be able to get the top players in the game excited about this unique opportunity," he said. "Seeing the teams that have already put their names on the entry list makes us all incredibly excited. It shows that the players are behind what we are trying to do, and we know that the fans will love it."