The US Open has obtained robust criticism following its resolution to carry its blended doubles competitors as a standalone occasion earlier than the beginning of the Slam from 2025.
Organisers stated it hoped the transfer would encourage prime singles gamers to take part within the blended doubles, which might be held over two days within the week main as much as the beginning of the primary attract New York.
Nevertheless, the choice has been described as a “profound injustice” by final 12 months’s winners Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori amid a backlash from gamers.
The US Open blended doubles might be held on 19-20 August, earlier than the hard-court Slam – which from this 12 months is increasing to a 15-day occasion – begins on Sunday, 24 August.
“Making selections simply following the logic of revenue is profoundly incorrect in some conditions,” Italians Errani and Vavassori stated in a joint assertion.
“In the previous few weeks we obtained the information that the US Open blended doubles event might be utterly turned the other way up, cancelled and changed with a pseudo-exhibition targeted solely on leisure and present.
“We see it as a profound injustice that disrespects a complete class of gamers. We do not know for the time being if we’ll have the prospect to defend our title however we hope this stays an remoted case.”
The US Open organisers stated the change would permit “the game’s greatest stars” to take part in blended doubles and claimed “pleasure is excessive among the many recreation’s stars who’ve already expressed intent to compete” within the new format.
American gamers Taylor Fritz, the boys’s world quantity 4, and Jessica Pegula, fifth within the girls’s rankings, have each expressed their intention to take part, whereas Holger Rune replied to the US Open’s announcement on X saying “Attention-grabbing”.