The US Open's drastic overhaul of its mixed doubles event has sparked widespread criticism.
The competition will now take place over just two days in the weeks leading up to the main tournament, with the traditional 32-player draw slashed to 16.
Eight of those spots will be reserved for wildcards, while the remaining eight will go to players with the highest combined singles rankings.
For players who specialise in mixed doubles, this significantly reduces their chances of competing. Last year's champions, Italy's Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani, took to Instagram to express their frustration over the โdecision made without consulting anyone.โ
โIn our opinion, making decisions just following the logic of profit is profoundly wrong in some situations,โ the pair shared in a joint statement.
โWe see it as a profound injustice that disrespects an entire category of players. Putting money above tennis is never a good idea.โ
โWe don't know at the moment if we'll have the chance to defend our title, but we hope this will remain an isolated case and this type of policy will not be considered again in the future.โ
The overhaul also introduces a new format, with sets now played to four games, tiebreakers at 4-4, and a 10-point match tiebreak replacing the third set. Meanwhile, prize money has seen a dramatic increase, with last year's $200,000 USD top prize skyrocketing to $1 million USD.
โBy giving the competition its own spotlight, we're elevating mixed doubles to put an even greater focus on the incredible talent we have across the sport,โ Lew Sherr, USTA executive director and CEO said in a statement.
โWe're working closely with top players, many of whom are eager to be part of this historic change."
