The highly anticipated US Open mixed doubles event has officially kicked off, and it’s already turning up the heat! After months of doubt following the announcement of a new, condensed two-day format, and plenty of backlash over shrinking the event’s scope, the tournament found some relief by releasing a star-studded list of partners. Still, not everyone was thrilled—especially the doubles champions. The defending champs made their voices heard loud and clear after a clash with Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina!
Fritz and Rybakina arrived in New York as the second seeds, riding high on momentum from their mixed doubles exhibition win at Indian Wells in March. But when they faced the Italian duo Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, things didn’t go their way. The defending champions were all business, dominating the court and earning a 4-2, 4-2 win to secure their spot in the quarter-finals. No messing around there!
After the match, they spoke out about the tournament’s unusual setup. With the event shortened into an “exhibition” style and many top doubles players sitting out, they felt a responsibility to step up. “We are playing for all the doubles players that could not compete here. We try to do our best,” Vavassori said passionately during his post-match interview. Their mission is clear and taken seriously on this unique stage.
Andrea Vavassori after he & Sara Errani beat Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz at U.S. Open:
“We are playing for all the doubles players that could not compete here. We try to do our best.” pic.twitter.com/5NQ1D4eX48
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 19, 2025
Interestingly, these champs who also snagged the French Open mixed doubles title this year weren’t even on the original entry list for New York’s mixed doubles draw. They slammed the USTA’s revamped entry rules, calling the changes a “profound injustice.” Their criticism shines a light on some serious controversy behind the scenes.
On the court, Mirra Andreeva and Jasmine Paolini stand out as the only players ranked in the top 15 in both singles and doubles on the men’s and women’s tours. Coco Gauff has been there too, once holding No. 2 in singles and a former No. 1 in doubles. Now, Andreeva and Paolini move forward to face the winner of the all-American pairing Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka, or the Czech-Russian team of Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev. The quarter-finals are set for Tuesday, and the excitement is building!
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