Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani were the only regular mixed doubles pair in the draw, and they were determined to win the title for the players who were snubbed from the competition
The 2024 US Open saw Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani, the victorious pair, pledge to clinch the mixed doubles championship in honor of the players who were overlooked for the competition. And they made good on their promise.
Italian powerhouses Vavassori and Errani outplayed the No. 3 seeds Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in Wednesday’s final, narrowly winning the decisive tiebreak 10-6 and pocketing a cool $1 million.
The restructured competition sparked controversy as regular doubles partners were swapped out for top-tier singles players, denying them a shot at the title. Big names like Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Swiatek were roped into the mixed doubles, while Venus Williams and Naomi Osaka received wildcard entries.
Vavassori and Errani were the sole familiar pair listed in the draw, but they held their ground and defended their championship despite not being seeded.
The Italian duo was keen to defend their title and bag another Grand Slam, but this year it was personal. Despite being pegged as underdogs against Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina in the first match, they sailed to victory in straight sets.
Post-match, Vavassori championed the quality of mixed doubles.
“Tactics in doubles are very important,” he shared during the on-court interview. “There are many very strong players here, but we often play together, we also talk off the court, and this is important. We also play for all the doubles players who cannot compete at the mixed doubles tournament here. We try to do our best.”
From a commercial perspective, the U.S. Open’s choice to reimagine the mixed doubles proved genius. The tournament garnered increased media attention, with Arthur Ashe Stadium completely packed on Wednesday.
Yet mixed doubles partnerships were robbed of their opportunity to battle for a Grand Slam title, while prize money skyrocketed from $200,000 to $1 million thanks to the star power of participating athletes.
Vavassori and Errani branded the format alterations a “profound injustice” and gained backing from fellow doubles specialists.
Kristina Mladenovic, a former World No. 1 in doubles and nine-time Grand Slam winner, argued it shouldn’t qualify as a major tournament because of the modifications.
Jack Draper labeled the event “fun” after teaming up with Jessica Pegula, leaving Mladenovic far from impressed.
“A grand slam is neither preparation nor fun,” she told Eurosport. “It’s years of sacrifice. When you’re young, you dream of winning one, even in doubles.
“In terms of business strategy, it’s a brilliant idea … but from a sporting point of view, it’s problematic because it touches on the essence of tennis. A Grand Slam is a competition steeped in history, in singles and doubles.
“There’s no problem putting on such an event. But above all, don’t call it a Grand Slam.”
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