The US Open just dropped a bombshell on the tennis world: mixed doubles is getting a complete makeover. Think fewer teams, faster matches, way more prize money, and—most importantly—some of the biggest names in tennis jumping in.
Changed in 2025?
Here’s the quick rundown of the new format:
-
Only 16 teams instead of 32.
-
Played during Fan Week (before the main draw) instead of the middle of the tournament.
-
Fast-paced scoring: “Fast 4” sets, no-ad points, and 10-point tiebreaks.
-
Star power overload: Djokovic, Swiatek, Alcaraz, Osaka, Sinner—yep, they’re all in.
-
$1 million prize for the champs (a massive jump from previous years).
Basically, the USTA turned mixed doubles into a high-gloss showcase instead of a tucked-away side event.
The Excitement
For casual fans and broadcasters, this is a dream. You get marquee players in mixed doubles for the first time in ages, matches are short and fun, and the prize money makes it feel like a real event instead of an afterthought.
Let’s be honest mixed doubles has often struggled for attention. This revamp could be the spark that brings new eyeballs (and sponsors) to a format that deserves more love.
But here’s the flip side: doubles specialists are fuming.
-
Defending champs called it a “profound injustice.”
-
Some players feel it’s less of a Grand Slam competition and more of an exhibition show.
-
Doubles pros, who built careers on mastering teamwork and tactics, are being pushed aside for singles superstars.
It raises a real concern: if mixed doubles becomes all about star value, what happens to the athletes who’ve carried the doubles tradition for years?
On one hand, this format could revive interest in doubles and give it the spotlight it hasn’t had in decades. On the other, it risks erasing the role of doubles specialists, turning the discipline into entertainment rather than competition.
The future probably depends on balance:
-
Can the USTA keep the star power and still respect doubles pros?
-
Will fans stick around once the novelty wears off?
-
Or is this the first step toward doubles becoming just a marketing tool?
The 2025 US Open mixed doubles is bold, flashy, and risky. It could either be the moment doubles tennis finally breaks into the mainstream or the moment it loses its identity.
Either way, one thing’s clear: tennis has rarely seen a shake-up this big. And everyone from purists to casual fans will be watching to see how it plays out.