Tennis fans call out sad US Open change as De Minaur and Boulter drop doubles update

Yahoo

6 days ago

Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter are hoping to once again reunite on court have joined the best tennis players in the world entering the US Open mixed doubles tournament as backlash to the format continues. De Minaur and Boulter last officially teamed-up on the court at Wimbledon in 2023.
While they have come up against each other in mixed doubles since, in the United Cup, the engaged couple have hinted they would be open to playing on the same team again. And the change of format at the US Open has granted them an opportunity to stand on the same side of the net against some of the best players in the sport.
In an attempt to shine more attention on mixed doubles, the competition will now take place during the fan week (one week before the tournament proper) and each match will be shortened. The matches will remain best of three sets, but only played to four games instead of six. The third set will be a super tiebreak.
In a huge incentive for the singles players to enter the 2025 winners will pocket $1 million ($A1.6m) in a huge boost. But controversially the draw will now feature 16 pairs, which is half that of 2024. Eight pairs will earn direct entry via their combined singles ranking, while the other eight will be wildcard entries.
Th US Open wants to draw in higher-ranked singles players to compete in the tournament. And this is exactly what has taken place. Not only have the likes of de Minaur and Boulter entered, but World No.1s Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams have all entered in their own separate pairs.
Last month, Boulter hinted herself and de Minaur needed to talk about entering the revamped US Open competition. The duo have joined a list of superstars in the competition, which has delighted many fans in what will certainly grab the attention of tennis supporters a week earlier than expected. This is a huge win for the US Open.
Backlash to US Open mixed doubles format
Although the move has drawn plenty of criticism from fans and former players. Last year's winners Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori have been included in the list. However, 25 teams have entered. The top eight teams with their combined rankings will have automatic selection. De Minaur and Boulter have a combined ranking of 53.
This will see them miss out on automatic entry. Some other big names of the sport will also miss out on selection in the eight wildcard entries, but it also hasn't been confirmed 2024 winners Errani and Vavassori will be included in the 16.
And while fans are hoping de Minaur and Boulter are selected, they will be battling it out against the likes of Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios for one of eight places in the wildcard draw. Although not everyone feels the new format is good for tennis.
The rule changes have been criticised with dedicated doubles and mixed doubles players no longer having another avenue of playing in a grand slam and earning money. Many of the lower ranked players were getting by on the tour thanks to entering mixed doubles competitions and earning money. Grand slams are the highest paying tournaments for these players.
The US Open halving the number of pairs and favouring singles rankings has all but ended any chance of lower ranked tennis players earning money at Flushing Meadows. This has seen the tournament face backlash to their decision, which goes against tennis tradition.
It is not looking good for the doubles specialists. By my count, there's 15 spots accounted for already and there's gonna be one available wild card. The teams I put down as locks for wild cards are teams I just can't imagine the US Open turning away bc they want singles stars. https://t.co/JUxbLLUO4T pic.twitter.com/LHgy1mT12P
— Owen (@kostekcanu) July 21, 2025
A shame for the top doubles specialists that aren't it because the top singles players are
— John (@bhrjnq) July 21, 2025
So a doubles tournament with entries determined entirely by singles rankings-so what is the point of players working hard to get a doubles ranking - this makes it completely worthless . This is just an exhibition event funding the singles players again. @realitytennis
— TeamApples (@TeamApples99) July 21, 2025
I find it odd that players and understandably so are complaining about the schedule and not having rest and then they sign up for a 4-match exhibition that counts as a real tournament with the US Open Mixed Doubles.
— SoCon Hoops Central (@hoops83657) July 21, 2025
Still appalled by what US Open decided to do with mixed doubles this year, tbh. You can see how much this means to these players and their families.
— Maria (@tennislols) July 10, 2025
Ellen Perez blasts US Open rule change
Another player who was left dumbfounded at the announcement earlier this year is Aussie mixed doubles player Ellen Perez. The Aussie is World No.17 in doubles, but currently unranked in singles.
The 29-year-old joined the chorus of players unleashing on the rule changes having suggested the US Open has disrespected the tradition of tennis. As it stands, Perez will not play the US Open mixed tournament because of change in format.
Tell us that you think doubles players are trash, that tradition is overrated and job opportunity is a thing of the past without actually saying it. 🤡👏 https://t.co/xxWeH5e9FD
— Ellen Perez (@EllenPerez95) February 11, 2025