NEW YORK – Sarah Elahni and Andrea Vavassoli were not sure they could defend the US open-mixed doubles title. The organizers revamped the tournament because they wanted a single superstar rather than a doubles specialist.
They not only returned to New York, but also returned to the top.
The Italians beat third seeded Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7 (10-6) on Wednesday night, winning $1 million in four games over two days.
Errani and Vavassori were among many critics of the changes to the event that kept out all other traditional double sparings, but after building up a quick lead with match tiebreakers and hugging in front of a massive crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, they had nothing but smiles and plenty of embraces.
“I think it was important to play,” Vavassori said. “I have to say the initiative was important as it was a statement that doubles could be better. The stadium was packed in. People enjoyed it.
It was rare for doubles players to enjoy. And what our open organizers were looking for when we overhauled the tournament was moving it well before singleplayer started on Sunday, hoping that the most famous players in tennis would play.
Many of them did. But in the end, the event belonged to a doubles duo.
Eight teams on the 16-team field were eligible by player total single rankings, and the remaining teams were given wild cards. Erani doubted the Italians would get it.
They ultimately became the first repeat mixed doubles champions at Flushing Meadows since Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray in 2018-19. Both have repeatedly said they represent many doubles players who have not had the opportunity to come to New York with them this year.
“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 admitted that the American Tennis Association took a bold risk of change, with critics cutting the championship to four games in the first three rounds, turning it into a glorious display rather than 32 events over 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.
“I thought it was very important in doubles to know how to play doubles,” Elani said. “In doubles, it not only serves good things, it also gives good blows and gives good things back. There are many other things that aren’t easy.”
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.
