NEW YORK – Sarah Ellani and Andrea Vavassoli defended the US Open Mixed Doubles title on Wednesday night, keeping the traditional team in addition to an improved event filled with singles stars.
The Italians beat No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7 (10-6) to win $1 million in four games over two days.
Errani and Vavassori were one of many critics about the changes to the event that kept out all other traditional double sparings, but only a smile and embrace after building a quick lead with a match tiebreaker and hugs in front of a massive crowd inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I think it’s amazing to play in this courtroom with so many people. I have to be very grateful for the atmosphere from the bottom of my heart,” Vavassori said before receiving the trophy.
It was rare for doubles players to enjoy. What the open organizers were hoping to do when we overhauled the tournament was moved well before singleplayer began on Sunday in hopes of tennis’s most famous players playing.
Many of them did. But in the end, the event belonged to a doubles expert.
Errani and Vavassori were not sure they could defend the title. Eight teams on the 16-team field were eligible by player total single rankings, and the remaining teams were given wild cards.
The Italian was awarded one and became the first repeat mixed doubles champion at Flushing Meadows since Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray in 2018-19.
They have repeatedly said they represent many doubles players who have not had the opportunity to come to New York this year with them.
“I think this is for them too,” Elani said.
The event passed open singles champions Carlos Alkaraz, Emma Radukanu, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka and Danil Medvedev. Without them, almost all seats were filled in in three Wednesday night games at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Rood admits that the American Tennis Association took a bold risk of that change, and critics say it cut the championship to four games in the first three rounds, turning it into a glorious exhibit rather than 32 events in the past two weeks. However, even players who specialize in doubles agreed that the event was far more attention than they were used to.
“Whenever you get a full crowd like this, how can you continue doing that?” Christian Harrison said after he and Daniel Collins lost 4-2, 4-2 to Elani and Vavassoli in the semi-finals. “I mean, it’s an unrealistic night. I’ll never forget tonight.”
Swiatek and Ruud edged Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper 3-5, 5-3 (10-8) top-seeded teams in the other semi-finals, fighting from a match tiebreaker’s 8-4 deficit.
Swiatek, the No. 2 ranked Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam singles champion, and Ruud, who reached three major singles finals, played well in the finals.
However, they were unable to match the Italians’ doubles prowess, who won their second major title together at this year’s French Open. Vavassori has a height and constant movement around the net, and was a difficult target to pass even with two accurate ball strikers Swiatek and Ruud from the baseline.
Elarani is one of the most skilled female doubles players to date, winning along with a career grand slam with former partner Roberta Vinci and a 2024 Olympic Gold Medal with Jasmine Paolini, who had cheered from the event after escaping the event after losing to Swiertek on Monday night in the Cincinnati Finals.
Swiatek chose to stay and shared $400,000 with Ruud. Last year, we doubled the victory of Errani and Vavassori.