Italian Duo Shows Tennis World How Mixed Doubles Should Be Done
Sometimes the underdogs bark the loudest, and Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori have something to prove at this year’s US Open. The Italian mixed doubles specialists didn’t just defend their title; they sent a message that echoed through Arthur Ashe Stadium like a perfectly placed drop shot. When the dust settled on Wednesday’s final, they’d beaten tennis royalty Iga Świątek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7, 10-6, pocketing a cool million dollars and proving that sometimes experience trumps star power.
The Doubles Specialists Strike Back
You could feel the electricity in the air as these two worlds collided. On one side, you had the singles superstars. Świątek, fresh off dominating the women’s tour, and Ruud, a consistent force on the men’s side. On the other, Errani and Vavassori, the grizzled veterans who eat, sleep, and breathe mixed doubles.
The match itself was a rollercoaster that would make even the most seasoned tennis fan grip their seat. After taking the first set 6-3, the Italians dropped the second 5-7, setting up a winner-take-all super tiebreaker. When Świątek’s return sailed wide on match point, you could practically hear the collective exhale from every doubles specialist watching worldwide.
“These two days will be really important for doubles in the future because we showed that doubles players are great players,” Vavassori said. This wasn’t just about the money, though, let’s be real, five times last year’s prize money doesn’t hurt, it was about respect.
Format Drama and High Stakes
Remember when this whole revamped tournament was announced back in February? Errani and Vavassori called it a “pseudo-exhibition” and threw around words like “profound injustice.” They weren’t mincing words, and frankly, you could understand their frustration. Here they were, specialists in their craft, potentially getting squeezed out by tennis’s biggest names looking for an easy payday.
But here’s where the story gets juicy. Vavassori admitted after their victory that he didn’t think they would have even gotten into the tournament if they hadn’t made that public statement. The new format compressed the entire mixed doubles event into two days, featuring shortened matches (first to four games in most rounds) and that crowd-pleasing super tiebreaker format. US Open organizers promised it would “elevate mixed doubles with a bigger spotlight,” and judging by the packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, mission accomplished.
Tennis Royalty Gets Schooled
What made this victory even sweeter was the path to glory. Errani and Vavassori steamrolled through tennis royalty like they were playing weekend warriors at the local club. Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz. Done. Karolína Muchová and Andrey Rublev. See ya later. Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison. Next.
The only set they dropped all tournament came in the final against Świątek and Ruud, which makes their championship run even more impressive. These weren’t lucky wins. This was systematic domination by two players who understood something their opponents didn’t: mixed doubles isn’t just singles with an extra person on court.
“I think in doubles we showed it’s very important to know how to play doubles,” Errani said. “In doubles, it’s not just serving good, hitting good, returning good. There are many other things that are not easy.”
She is absolutely right. Doubles is chess while singles is checkers. Court positioning, communication, and understanding when to poach at the net are skills you cannot easily pick up.
The Crowd Loved Every Minute
Even the singles stars had to admit this thing worked. Jessica Pegula, who made last year’s US Open singles final, described the atmosphere as “arguably more crazy almost than a singles match.” When you’re getting endorsements from players of Pegula’s caliber, you know you’ve created something special.
Jack Draper called it “a bit of a spectacle,” and with Anna Wintour herself in attendance, he wasn’t exaggerating. New York tennis fans are a special breed. They will cheer for good tennis, whether it’s coming from a Grand Slam champion or a doubles specialist grinding out a living on tour.
“People love sport. People especially in New York, they love getting into it,” Draper said. Give New Yorkers competitive tennis and they will give you energy that could power half of Manhattan.
What’s Next For Mixed Doubles?
The million-dollar question (literally) is whether this format has legs beyond 2025. Vavassori suggested expanding to 32 teams to include more doubles specialists, which makes sense. Why not create that “singles versus doubles” narrative that had everyone talking?
The beauty of this tournament wasn’t just watching household names like Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu try their hand at mixed doubles. It was seeing true specialists like Errani and Vavassori remind everyone that experience and chemistry matter more than individual star power.
This victory represents something bigger than just another trophy for the Italian duo. It is validation for every doubles specialist who has ever felt overshadowed by the singles game. It is proof that there is room in tennis for different kinds of excellence.
As the tennis world turns its attention to the main US Open draw, Errani and Vavassori have already won their biggest battle. They’ve shown that mixed doubles deserve more than an afterthought. It deserves respect, attention, and apparently, million-dollar prize pools.
