The US Open tennis tournament showed it’s never too late to spice things up, even heading into its 145th year.
The mixed doubles competition, largely an afterthought in the past, debuted a revamped format this week and energized crowds at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. In part, that’s thanks to a star-studded, 16-team field that included names like Novak Djokovic, Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz.
Not to mention some riveting tennis like what was on display in the final Wednesday night, Aug. 21, when defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori outlasted Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7, 10-6.
Oh, the 10-6 – that’s part of the adjusted scoring system that takes a little getting used to. Until the final, sets were played to four games, not six games, and there were no advantage points.
While purists might debate the merits of the scoring system, the play proved compelling – especially in the final.
The 6-foot-4 Vavassori was brilliant at the net and overpowering with his serve. Errani, 38, looked youthful with her smart play. And together, the Italian duo proved mixed doubles specialists can hold their ground against the planet’s best singles players chasing compensation.
The champions won $1 million, up from the $200,000 that went to the winners last year. It clearly helped lure marquee players into the draw, and the fans responded.
A good chunk of the sellout crowd remained to cheer the Italians and Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, along with Ruud during the post-match trophy presentation. Ruud thanked the tournament for “going a little bold and trying this out.’
“It was fun for us, and I hope it was fun for the fans,’’ Ruud said. “It’s midnight on Wednesday and we’re still here on Arthur Ashe and I don’t think anyone expected that but it’s been really cool for us players to try it.’’
Vavassori called it “an amazing atmosphere’’ and said, “We showed today that doubles is a great product.’’
He thanked his partner, Errani, for her energy that looked in ample supply. She beamed at Vavassori.
“It’s a pleasure for me to be by your side,’’ she said.
Their wizardry set off cheers, as did Swiatek and Ruud when they staged a mid-match comeback.
The crowd noise grew to a roar. The tension thickened. An experiment involving mixed doubles at the 145th US Open appeared to be a success.
US Open mixed doubles final highlights
Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori def. Iga Swiatek/Casper Ruud to win title
Italy’s Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori won the US Open mixed doubles title for the second year in a row, holding off Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in the finals 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 Wednesday, Aug. 20 at New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 6-foot-4 Vavassori was spectacular at the net and overpowering with his serve. And his 38-year-old partner, Errani, also was masterful during their two-day run through the 16-team field.
The Italians collected $1 million by winning the championship.
Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori def. Danielle Collins/Christian Harrison
Italy’s Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori gave themselves a chance to defend their title as US Open mixed doubles champs. They did it by powering past Americans Christian Harrison and Danielle Collins 4-2, 4-2 in the semifinals. The Italians did not lose a single point during their service games in the first set, and Vavassori’s serves were especially wicked. The Americans broke Errani’s service to knot the second set at 2-2, but the Italians promptly won the next two games and closed out the match.
Iga Swiatek/Casper Ruud def. Jessica Pegula/Jack Draper
Clutch play propelled Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud past Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper in the semifinals (3-5, 5-3, 10-8). Down a set, Swiatek and Ruud rallied and won the second set, forcing a 10-point tiebreak. Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, and Ruud began to unravel, going down 8-4 after Swiatek’s double fault. But with the match hanging in the balance, Swiatek and Ruud were clutch again, reeling off six straight points for the victory.
US Open mixed doubles order of play today
All times Eastern. All matches are held at Arthur Ashe Stadium and televised on ESPN2.
Semifinals – Wednesday, Aug. 20
No. 1 Jessica Pegula/Jack Draper vs. No. 3 Iga Swiatek/Casper Ruud, 7 p.m.
Danielle Collins/Christian Harrison vs. Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori, 8:30 p.m.
Final – Wednesday, Aug. 20
Semifinals winners, 10 p.m. | ESPN2
How to watch US Open mixed doubles 2025: TV and streaming
Wednesday, Aug. 20
Time: 7-10 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Streaming: ESPN+ and Fubo
Location: Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (Flushing, New York)
Stream the 2025 US Open on Fubo
US Open mixed doubles 2025 format
Each match (other than the final) are best-of-three sets, and each set is first team to win four games. Unlike singles matches, there will be no-ad in games that reach a score of deuce (40-all), meaning that the winner of the next point wins the game. If each team has won four games in a set, a tiebreak will be played.
If the teams split sets, a 10-point match tiebreak will be played in lieu of a third set. The first team to win 10 points, with an advantage of two or more points, will win the match.
In the final, the first team to win six games wins the set, and the first team to win two sets wins the championship. If the teams split sets, a 10-point match tiebreak will be played in lieu of a third set.
US Open mixed doubles 2025 prize money
First round: $20,000
Quarterfinals: $100,000
Semifinals: $200,000
Runner-up: $400,000
Champion: $1 million
US Open mixed doubles results Tuesday
Quarterfinals
Iga Swiatek/Casper Ruud defeated Caty McNally/Lorenzo Musetti, 4-1, 4-2
Jessica Pegula/Jack Draper defeated Mirra Andreeva/Daniil Medvedev, 4-1, 4-1
Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori defeated Karolina Muchova/Andrey Rublev, 4-1, 5-4 (7-4)
Danielle Collins/Christian Harrison defeated Taylor Townsend/Ben Shelton 4-1, 5-4 (7-2)
First round
Caty McNally/Lorenzo Musetti defeated Naomi Osaka/Gael Monfils 5-3 (4-3), 4-2
Iga Swiatek/Casper Ruud defeated Madison Keys/Frances Tiafoe 4-1, 4-2
Jessica Pegula/Jack Draper defeated Emma Raducanu/Carlos Alcaraz, 4-2, 4-2
Mirra Andreeva/Daniil Medvedev defeated Olga Danilovic/Novak Djokovic, 4-2, 5-3
Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori defeated Elena Rybakina/Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2
Karolina Muchova/Andrey Rublev defeated Venus Williams/Reilly Opelka 4-2, 5-4 (7-4)
Taylor Townsend/Ben Shelton defeated Amanda Anisimova/Holger Rune, 4-2, 4-5 (7-2)
Danielle Collins/Christian Harrison defeated Belinda Bencic/Alexander Zverev, 4-0, 5-3