Australian Open’s call on shock US Open mixed doubles decision
The Australian Open has made a decisive call as to whether it will follow in the footsteps of the US Open and relegate mixed doubles to a pre-tournament sideshow.
The Australian Open won’t be following in the footsteps of the US Open and relegating mixed doubles to a pre-tournament sideshow.
In a controversial move US Open officials have announced they will be scheduling the mixed doubles across two days during fan week at this year’s tournament before the main draw starts.
And they are stripping back the matches, making the early-round matches the best of three-sets but played to just four games, with a deciding point played at deuce.
The tournament will also be made up of just 16 teams, with eight teams earning direct entry based on their combined singles ranking playing alongside eight wild-card entrants.
Tennis Australia reacted quickly on Wednesday, pointing to the all-Australian mixed doubles final at this year’s Australian Open as evidence of why the event is a crucial part of the tournament.
“Mixed doubles is a fantastic showcase for tennis, and one of the only opportunities in world sport where men and women can compete alongside and against each other,” the TA statement said.
“It’s a key pillar of the success of the United Cup where the mixed doubles has often determined the result, and it’s a big hit with both the players and the fans.
“Our whole summer of tennis - culminating with the Australian Open - is about creating more job opportunities for the players, providing more competition on the biggest stage and more prize money.
“This was highlighted at the AO this year when we had an all-Aussie mixed doubles finalist, with one of our talented young players, Olivia Gadecki, teaming up with Olympic Gold Medallist John Peers to win the Grand Slam title over Kim Birrell and JP Smith.
“We are always exploring new ways to elevate the sport, and while promoting men’s, women’s and mixed doubles is a key priority for AO 26, we have no plans to change the current format of the Mixed Doubles Championship at the AO.”
The US Open move was met with widespread criticism, led by former doubles champion Paul McNamee who wrote on X: ““Sets to four games in a Grand Slam? 16 teams with eight based on singles rankings and eight wildcards. I’m sorry, but the US Open now will not produce a bona fide mixed doubles winner,”
But officials at Flushing Meadow described the move as a “groundbreaking innovation”.
“I could not be more excited to introduce this groundbreaking innovation to the 2025 US Open Championships,” US Tennis Association executive director Lew Sherr said.
“We’ll be scheduling mixed doubles on the center stage and enabling more fans worldwide to enjoy the thrill of watching their favorite stars compete for this coveted Grand Slam Championship title.”
Other rule changes to the scoring include tiebreaks being contested at 4-4 instead of 6-6 as they are in a regular match.
A first-to-10-points match tiebreaker would be played if the teams split sets. Only the final will be a best-of-three-sets affair.
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