The 2025 US Open mixed doubles competition is proving to be one of the most talked-about events of the summer, with fans showering praise on its fresh format and star-driven lineup featuring Iga Świątek and Carlos Alcaraz. Social media lit up with reactions after thousands packed Arthur Ashe Stadium to watch the action unfold, marking a rare moment where mixed doubles commanded center stage at a major tennis event.
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The United States Tennis Association made a bold move this year, scheduling the event during Fan Week on Aug. 19 and 20 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. With $1 million in prize money on the line for the champions, the event attracted 16 high-profile ATP-WTA pairings.
The big names in the draw included Naomi Osaka with Gael Monfils, Emma Raducanu with Alcaraz, Świątek with Casper Ruud, Elena Rybakina with Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton with Taylor Townsend, and Olga Danilović with Novak Djokovic. The matches were contested under a new fast-paced scoring system that featured four-game sets, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point match tiebreak to decide close encounters.
Fans quickly embraced the experiment, filling the Arthur Ashe Stadium well before the first matches began. Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg noted the turnout in a post on X, writing:
“The enormous Arthur Ashe Stadium is mostly full already for the #USOpen mixed doubles, before any players have yet taken court. Safe to say the US Open is going to be running this concept back in 2026; question is how many of the other Slams copy them, and how immediately.”
The enormous Arthur Ashe Stadium is mostly full already for the #USOpen mixed doubles, before any players have yet taken court.
Safe to say the US Open is going to be running this concept back in 2026; question is how many of the other Slams copy them, and how immediately. pic.twitter.com/LJE7y2utFZ
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 20, 2025
Others echoed his sentiment, pointing out how rare it was to see nearly 20,000 people gathering for a discipline that often plays out on small side courts. “It’s close to 20,000 people. For mixed doubles. No wonder the #LA28 #Olympics will do the same #USOpen,” one fan commented, referencing the format’s influence on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which has confirmed a similar two-day window for its mixed doubles competition.
It’s close to 20,000 people. For mixed doubles. No wonder the #LA28 #Olympics will do the same #USOpen pic.twitter.com/lL9iQOvtXn
— Vanni Gibertini (@vgibertini) August 20, 2025
The reactions highlighted how fans saw the new format as a breakthrough moment for the sport. One user joked about Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley, saying, “You know Craig Tiley is furious he didn’t think of this mixed doubles format first. Fuming!”
You know Craig Tiley is furious he didn’t think of this mixed doubles format first.
Fuming!
— Tick Tock Tennis (@TickTockTennis) August 20, 2025
Another reflected on the growth in interest compared to years past, writing, “There were exciting mixed doubles points in previous years like we are seeing in Arthur Ashe Stadium tonight… except they were on Court 12, in front of 22 fans played between four players who many average sports fans wouldn’t know much about, unfortunately.”
There were exciting mixed doubles points in previous years like we are seeing in Arthur Ashe Stadium tonight…except they were on Court 12, in front of 22 fans played between four players who many average sports fans wouldn’t know much about, unfortunately.
— Randy Walker (@TennisPublisher) August 21, 2025
Others celebrated the atmosphere, with one remarking, “I play tennis, but I recognize that tennis is a fringe sport. This mixed doubles format is a great idea. The stadium was full before the match even started. You need to embrace it, it’s likely going to be adopted by the other Majors.”
Another wrote, “Congrats to @usopen team for bringing the awesomeness of mixed doubles to the forefront!!! The stadium looks packed! Too much fun to watch.”
One fan noted, “This first semifinal alone justified the whole XD revamp. More compelling than anything mixed doubles has seen since Williams/Murray at Wimbledon.”
MORE: Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Taylor Townsend, and Others’ Prize Money After Early Exits – US Open Mixed Doubles
The mixed doubles event recently reached its climax, with Italian doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori defeating third seed Świątek and Ruud 6-3, 5-7 (10-6) in the final.
