Jan Zielinski voices strong disapproval of the new US Open mixed doubles format

By
Mark Hall
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Jan Zielinski

Polish tennis player Jan Zielinski, a two-time Grand Slam champion in mixed doubles, has publicly criticized the revamped format of the US Open mixed doubles event. The tournament, now scheduled during Fan Week on August 19–20, has undergone a significant transformation aimed at boosting its appeal by featuring top-ranked singles players and offering a $1 million prize for the winning team.

The new structure reduces the draw to just sixteen teams, with eight pairs selected based on combined singles rankings and the remaining eight granted wild cards. This shift has sparked backlash from doubles specialists who feel sidelined by a system that prioritizes star power over proven success in the discipline.

Zielinski, who won the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2024 alongside Hsieh Su-wei, expressed his frustration on social media, stating that even his recent Grand Slam victories were not enough to secure an invitation. His remarks have resonated with other doubles players and fans who view the changes as a move away from merit-based competition.

While the USTA defends the overhaul as a way to elevate the profile of mixed doubles and attract broader audiences, critics argue that it undermines the integrity of the event. The inclusion of high-profile pairings like Carlos Alcaraz with Emma Raducanu and Novak Djokovic with Olga Danilovic has certainly generated buzz, but it has also intensified the debate over fairness and the future of doubles tennis.

As the entry deadline approaches, the controversy surrounding the new format continues to grow, highlighting the tension between innovation and tradition in the evolving landscape of professional tennis. Whether the experiment will succeed in revitalizing mixed doubles or alienate its core competitors remains to be seen.