The US Open’s revamped blended doubles format is a “profound injustice” that disrespects the gamers, reigning champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori have mentioned.
On Tuesday, the yr’s final grand slam introduced that the blended doubles competitors, which is able to supply a $1m winners’ prize, is scheduled for 19-20 August – the week earlier than the singles major draw.
The competitors’s format has been overhauled, with 16 groups taking part – half the 32 that competed final yr.
The qualification course of has additionally been modified, with eight groups incomes direct entry by way of their mixed singles rating – versus their mixed doubles rating. The opposite eight groups will probably be wildcard entries.
The US Open mentioned the modifications had been made after the success of the ‘Blended Insanity’ exhibition occasion held earlier than final yr’s match, which paired up a lot of high-profile singles gamers into groups.
“Making selections simply following the logic of revenue is profoundly unsuitable in some conditions,” Italians Errani and Vavassori, who beat Taylor Townsend and Donald Younger to raise final yr’s blended doubles title, mentioned in a press release on Tuesday.
“In the previous couple of weeks we obtained the information that the US Open blended doubles match will probably be fully 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 don’t know in the intervening time if we’ll have the prospect to defend our title however we hope this stays an remoted case.“
America Tennis Affiliation mentioned it understood the suggestions from doubles gamers.
“We acknowledge that change is tough, nonetheless total we imagine this reimagined blended doubles championship will elevate blended doubles with a much bigger highlight and supply a larger alternative to encourage extra individuals to play and develop the game,” it added.
Poland’s Jan Zielinski, a blended doubles winner finally yr’s Australian Open and Wimbledon, mentioned on Instagram that the choice had been taken with out “any session with the gamers and primarily based strictly on revenue“.
Australia’s Ellen Perez, a former world No 7 in doubles, criticised the format modifications in a publish on X.
“Inform us that you just suppose doubles gamers are trash, that custom is overrated and job alternative is a factor of the previous with out really saying it,” she wrote.
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