US Open introduces new mixed doubles format

BBC Sport analyzes the new stand-alone mixed doubles event at the 2025 US Open detailing format entrants and prize structure.

US Open introduces new mixed doubles format and prize money

The 2025 US Open will start with a stand-alone mixed doubles championship on August 19 and 20. Sixteen pairs will compete for the title, with seven teams earning direct entry based on their combined singles ranking and the rest coming from wildcards. Emma Raducanu is set to team with Wimbledon runner-up Carlos Alcaraz, while world number one Jannik Sinner partners with Katerina Siniakova. The two-day event will be staged at the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums.

Matches will use a compact format: three short sets, each comprised of four games. There is no advantage at deuce, so the next point decides the game. If both teams reach four games in a set, a 10-point tie-break will decide that set. In the final, the match will be best of three sets with six games per set and a 10-point tie-break if the sets are split. The change aims to speed up play and boost spectator appeal.

The shift to a stand-alone mixed doubles event marks a bold experiment for the US Open. It offers quicker matches and a chance for more stars to appear on a single doubles stage, potentially broadening the sport's audience. Yet the format change risks alienating traditional doubles fans who value longer, more tactical play.

If the experiment pays off with strong crowds and media attention, organizers may defend the format as modern and fan-friendly. If not, critics may question whether prize money and scheduling favor top singles players at the expense of doubles specialists, and whether the sport can sustain this approach over time.

Highlights

Time will reveal whether this format earns a lasting place in the sport.