Despite the new format this time, Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani are successfully defending the final title of mixed doubles at US Open.
The Italian duo defeated the pairing of Casper Rood with Igawi Tec 6-3, 5-7, (10-6) in the final at Arthur Ash Stadium in New York on Wednesday night. This gave the title in an improved form of a mixed doubles competition at the Grand Slam event, as well as a new $1 million prize. Together as a team, it is the third major title.
Vavassori and Errani took off from the jump. They rolled into a 4-1 lead in the opening set, before Rude and świątek finally began punching back. They won two straight games to bring the deficit back into one game, taking a 40-15 lead in the eighth game, but Vavassori and Errani responded perfectly. They scored seven straight points, controlled again, and quickly concluded the opening set.
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Rude and świątek hanged much better in the second set, taking a 3-2 lead early. Vavassori also began receiving treatment on her left thigh, and in fact she needed a medical timeout. But that break seemed exactly what he needed as Vavassori and Errani moved forward again with eight of the next 11 points. They also gathered from a 30-0 deficit with four straight points in the next game, and escaped every time they brought ruud and świątek closer.
However, Ruud and świą Tek worked hard in the ninth game of the second set, knocking the Italians out to tie the 5-5. All momentum returned, Rudo and świątek continued their grip to win the next game, then defeating Elani’s serve and forced the decision.
But whatever they lost, they’ve returned to the tiebreak. Errani and Vavassori quickly scored three points from a massive slam, taking a 4-2 lead after świą Tek struggled to serve again. Vavassori and Errani survived a wild rally to take a 6-4 lead. They are after they reverted świątek and Ruud.
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Schwittk and Rude pulled a big comeback to make the final. After winning the second set to force a tiebreaker, świątek and Rudo secured the victory after scoring the final six points of the night and falling 8-4. świątek scored the backhand winner at baseline, sealing off the deal and knocking off top seed Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper.
Vavassori and Errani wereted no time in the semi-final match. There, they returned to the finals with Daniel Collins and Christian Harrison 4-2, 4-2 rolls.
The US Open switched things up at this year’s Mixed Doubles Competition to bring that part of the event back. Not only did they win seven figures for the grab, but in comparison they split just $200,000 in their mixed doubles victory last year, but changed the rules quite a bit. The set was played in four games rather than six before Wednesday’s final. There were no points. Instead of the third set, there was a match tiebreaker. The event was cut from just 16 to just 16 teams, moving before the US Open Singles competition progressed.
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They won, but Erani was one of those who were not happy with the Switch. After all, they were one of the only true doubles teams that were competing.
“If at the Olympics they didn’t let the actual high jumpers get involved and instead made the basketball players compete in high jumps because it was more “interesting.” If you want to do that, I think you can, but you can’t award them a medal,” Erani said in advance via the Associated Press.
“You can’t have a Grand Slam double (trophy). No doubles players can participate. … You’re excluded from their sports.
Regardless of the criticism they cooked, Erani and Vavassoli still go up and have another Grand Slam title under their belt. And each of the $500,000 checks has to count something.
