Mixed Doubles

[jimlosaltos]

Inspired by the US Open's pre-Fan Day mixed doubles (with a $1 Million prize), Bill Simons at Inside Tennis' web site shared some mixed anecdotes.

Among them:

WHAT A SHOCK – McENROE SAID SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE: After Steffi Graf told John McEnroe that she wanted to rest up for her 1999 Wimbledon singles final rather than play the mixed doubles final with him, Mac let err rip, telling Andre Agassi in the locker room, “Can you believe what that f–g bitch did to me?” Little did he know that Andre had just started courting Steffi and was planning to have dinner that night with his wife-to-be.

https://www.insidetennis.com/2025/08/a-mixed-up-history-of-mixed-doubles/

[stroke]

I actually watched a bit of Ruud Swiatek match. They were certainly my pick to win this Laver Cup type tournament. Two very problematic forehands to deal with out there.

[jimlosaltos]

Redesigned Mixed Doubles is over. Amidst a bunch of pick-up teams and recognizable singles players, two doubles specialists and defending champs seemingly snuck into the finals and beat Ruud-Swiatek to win $1 Million.

New best of 4 by 2 format worked quite well. Somehow fit the whole upbeat "this is for fun" vibe and a stadium full of fans seemed engaged and happy (because they paid little or nothing?) P.S. Switched back to best of 6 in the finals was a mistake. Rhythm was established, then suddenly broken.

Seriously, the whole vibe was "fun", even when players got tense. Despite all the money, it seemed as if the players felt a lot of pressure mainly because they didn't want to let their largely pick-up partners down. And it was nice not to have any 10 minute bathroom breaks nor 15 minute MTOs.

USO's Fan Week adds a carnival of fun in front of a Big Biz tournament that must leave the other majors drooling with envy.
Last year, the USO sold $12.8 Million of -- wait for it -- Honey Deuce cocktails. That's 556,782 drinks at $23 each.

Excerpt NYT:
The matches in Ashe, which was largely full, required tickets that ranged from about $25 to a couple of hundred dollars, far less than seats during the main two weeks of the U.S. Open.

The concession stands were still humming along for profit, too, with fans waiting in lines to pay some notably high prices, like $26 for chicken nuggets or $23 for the Open’s signature cocktail, the Honey Deuce. The relative affordability of Fan Week was the very issue that Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York, wanted to highlight on his visit to the site on Monday.



Gift link over view article NYT:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/n...8.NFtR.H8Qd46j e8VcO&smid=url-share

[klacr]

After all the hoopla it turns out the best mixed doubles team in the world are...a legitimate grand slam caliber mixed doubles team from Italy. Let's bring back the old format and give those doubles players a chance to showcase their real skills.

Kyle LaCroix
Boca Raton
SETS

[jimlosaltos]

After all the hoopla it turns out the best mixed doubles team in the world are...a legitimate grand slam caliber mixed doubles team from Italy. Let's bring back the old format and give those doubles players a chance to showcase their real skills.

Kyle LaCroix
Boca Raton
SETS

Retribution, Kyle? But the old school "real" doubles team won 5x as much money this year as it did last year { split a cool $1 Million }

Why? The USO filled the stadium { for mixed doubles! } with very happy fans having a great time consuming scores of Honey Deuce cocktails at $23 each. USO's Fan Week adds a carnival of fun in front of a Big Biz tournament that must leave the other majors drooling with envy. Money's in the concessions, Honey Deuce alone bringing in $12.8 Million last year. Bet that "doubles" this time.

More "regular doubles teams" need to be in the mix, but this format is golden in both senses. No going back now.

[jimlosaltos]

Question for TNPers: How does Errani win with her serve?

Late in the mixed doubles finals, Errani, excoriated for having the "worst serve in all of pro tennis", hit an underarm serve at 64 MPH. Many were quick to point out that this was FASTER than many of her conventional serves. Caspar Ruud echoed Daniil Medvedev in saying that the 6 ft 4 in Vavassori's net coverage was a reason the male players got psyched out trying and largely failing to attack her weak service. Sounds logical.

But riddle me this. Sara won an Olympic Gold Medal, and numerous other large titles, teamed with country-woman and fellow shortie Jasmine Paolini who has the intimidating (not) net wingspan of an English Sparrow. Seems like there is more to this than a gangly ectomorph draped over the net. Maybe Errani is just very good at doubles. Poaches at the right time and makes it pay off. Defends returns of her serve well. Volleys effectively to the right spots.

1 of 2 Casper Ruud at USO Mixed.

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2 of 2 Medvedev about Olympic mixed. Interviewed by Ben Rothenberg.

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[DavidLHagler]

Professional Tennis meets professional wrestling. The only difference is the matches weren't scripted. It's a joke. Reilly Opelka said (and I'm paraphrasing), the doubles tour is for failed singles players, no one comes to watch it, and it should be abolished. He was in the draw. Happy to take the check. Played with Venus, who is 45 and has won 1 tour match in the last 3 years. There are doubles specialists who are more skilled at doubles, and because of this are more entertaining - but most people don't ever see them play. These players probably need the money more than the megastars. Some players have skills that translate better to singles than doubles, and vice- versa. This may be about slightly less elite lateral mobility, but there are sometimes subtle differences in the skill sets required to excel.

Tennis and sport in general is supposed to be a meritocracy. I realize you have to put asses in seats, but there has to be a less asinine way to do so.

[stroke]

Professional Tennis meets professional wrestling. The only difference is the matches weren't scripted. It's a joke. Reilly Opelka said (and I'm paraphrasing), the doubles tour is for failed singles players, no one comes to watch it, and it should be abolished. He was in the draw. Happy to take the check. Played with Venus, who is 45 and has won 1 tour match in the last 3 years. There are doubles specialists who are more skilled at doubles, and because of this are more entertaining - but most people don't ever see them play. These players probably need the money more than the megastars. Some players have skills that translate better to singles than doubles, and vice- versa. This may be about slightly less elite lateral mobility, but there are sometimes subtle differences in the skill sets required to excel.

Tennis and sport in general is supposed to be a meritocracy. I realize you have to put asses in seats, but there has to be a less asinine way to do so.

At least we were spared the Fed Serena team, if I am putting this "event" in the most positive light.

[jimlosaltos]

I have "mixed" feelings myself, but a) lots of very happy fans had a great time 2) This = Mixed Doubles Championship TV viewing up 224% vs Fan Week Exo in 2024 { vs comparable on ESPN2 }. Mixed doubles semifinals and finals themselves up 25% over 2024.

From a biz standpoint, think of it this as all the net going to the USTA bottom line after fixed costs are already allocated to the main event. i.e. it's all gravy.

And all those happy fans are buying $25 Honey Deuces and $50 T-Shirts. More of the first lead to yet more of the second.

These images are from Reddit. I give no promises of accuracy

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