NEW YORK – Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori successfully defended their US Open mixed doubles crown on Wednesday, battling past Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in a thrilling 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 victory inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Italian pair, who entered the event as wildcards, leaned on chemistry and experience to edge out two of the sport’s top singles stars. Vavassori sealed the win with a blistering forehand before lifting Errani off the ground in celebration, as the crowd roared them on. The title came with a $1 million payday and a reminder of just how effective seasoned doubles players can be against higher-ranked singles opponents.
“We are doing something amazing these last two years,” Vavassori said afterwards, highlighting not only their US Open success but also their French Open title earlier in the season. “We showed today that doubles is a great product.”
Swiatek and Ruud Fall Short in First Partnership
For Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam singles champion, and Ruud, a three-time major finalist, the partnership was brand new—and it showed early. The Italians raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set as their opponents struggled with timing and positioning. Swiatek briefly swung momentum with a sharp volley winner, but her double fault soon handed the break right back. Vavassori closed out the set with an ace that left Ruud rooted.
The second set followed a similar script until Ruud and Swiatek mounted a late push, breaking back in the tenth game and stealing the set after Swiatek cracked a clean backhand down the line. But in the deciding match tiebreak, the Italians surged ahead 4-0 and never looked back. Swiatek’s final double fault ended the contest.
“We pushed until the end and tried to make it competitive,” Swiatek said, reflecting on her return to the same court where she lifted the singles trophy in 2022.
A New Format, Big Names, and Some Frustration
This year’s US Open introduced a restructured mixed doubles format: eight teams qualified via combined singles rankings, while another eight entered with wildcards. Organizers clearly aimed to boost visibility by pulling in marquee names such as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, and it worked—fans lined up in the rain an hour and a half before Wednesday’s semifinals, an almost unheard-of turnout for mixed doubles.
Still, the changes didn’t sit well with everyone. Several established doubles specialists, including past champions, were shut out of the draw entirely. Errani acknowledged that frustration in her victory speech: “This one is for all the doubles players who couldn’t play this tournament.”
What It Means
For Errani and Vavassori, the win cements them as one of the most formidable mixed doubles teams in the sport, capable of beating even the biggest singles names. For the US Open, the gamble of reimagining mixed doubles has undeniably paid off in terms of attention and ticket sales—but it has also reignited an old debate: should doubles be marketed by showcasing singles stars, or by celebrating the specialists who dedicate their careers to it?