The US Open mixed doubles competition concluded with a thrilling victory for Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams, marking a significant shift in the tournament’s structure and generating considerable discussion amongst tennis fans and commentators alike.
Alcaraz, playing his first competitive match since a wrist injury, partnered the American legend for the first time since 2022, a move designed to enhance the spectacle and introduce a dynamic pairing that defied traditional doubles expectations.
The tournament’s revamped mixed doubles format has drawn criticism for prioritizing the appeal of the sport’s top singles stars, leading to concerns amongst established doubles players about their diminished opportunities.
Despite the challenges, the crowds witnessed a vibrant atmosphere, with approximately 15,000 spectators packed inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, a significant increase from previous years. The match saw the four pairings of doubles specialists lose to a team of singles players, with Alcaraz and Williams falling in the quarter-finals.
Seven-time major champion Alcaraz was playing his first competitive match since April, while 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams was competing in New York for the first time since ‘evolving away’ from tennis in 2022. The pair were greeted by enthusiastic cheers and were roared on throughout their opening 5-3 4-1 win against Great Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe.
Interviewed during a change of ends, Alcaraz stated: ‘I’m playing next to the one and only Serena Williams, so what else can I do? Just enjoy and try to do the things she told me to do.’
Their partnership rapidly improved, winning eight of the final nine games to secure victory.
However, they were denied a place in Wednesday’s semi-finals by Italy’s world number six Flavio Cobolli and Swiss team-mate Belinda Bencic, who won 5-4 (7-4) 4-1.
Returning Alcaraz ‘almost forgot how this feels’ – he admitted feeling nervous before stepping out on the court, citing the partnership with Williams as a key factor.
Williams, who hadn’t competed in that format since injuring her knee at Wimbledon, will not contest the singles match at the US Open – she has not competed in that format since injuring her knee at Wimbledon – and the tournament’s controversial format has sparked debate about the future of the mixed doubles competition.
The tournament is scheduled to precede the singles draw, with direct entry for top-ranked singles players and wildcards, and the format is designed to increase the level of competition.
Established doubles players such as Britons Glasspool and Henry Patten had to overcome two qualifying rounds on Monday, and top-ranked players Patten and Katerina Siniakova advanced to the quarter-finals before losing to Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina.
Monfils remarked: ‘I’m a big fan of her game and mentality. Sometimes I think she’s ice and I’m the fire.’
“We needed to find the balance. We did today.”
The other semi-final will see Russians Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev face Czech pair Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik.
It was not all plain sailing for the leading singles players, with men’s 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic and women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka suffering an early exit at the hands of Patten and Bencic.
The tournament’s revamped mixed doubles format, introduced last year, has been met with considerable controversy, with critics arguing that it favors the top singles players and raises concerns about the long-term viability of the competition.
The US Open mixed doubles tournament was a significant event, drawing a considerable audience and generating significant media coverage, and the results served as a reminder of the evolving landscape of professional tennis.
The US Open mixed doubles tournament has been a result of a controversial format introduced last year, which pits established doubles players against some of the sport’s biggest singles stars.
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Source: Adom Sports
