Stars Align for Mixed Doubles in US Open Revamp

Competition featuring top singles players and staged before main event will catch the eye at Flushing Meadows

- Tumaini Carayol

A few hours after Taylor Fritz's third-round match at the Cincinnati Open, the theme of his post-match press conference shifted from his victory against Lorenzo Sonego to the looming US Open mixed doubles tournament. The first question posed to him on this subject was prefaced with the acknowledgment that mixed doubles was probably not his priority during one of the biggest tournaments in the world. As a grin spread across his face, Fritz interjected: "It is a priority."

Fritz had been asked whether he had any sympathy for the doubles specialists who had been brushed aside to make room for the transformation of this event. From his perspective, the right players were in the draw. "I've seen a lot of people calling it like an exhibition, or it doesn't count," he said.

"I think this is the strongest mixed doubles field you're going to see at a grand slam. If the mixed doubles teams that are in come in and win the event, then I'll eat my words and say I'm wrong, but I think the level is going to be really high."

After six months of anticipation, the revamped US Open mixed-doubles tournament is here.

Usually the domain of doubles specialists with the exception of the very occasional superstar pairing, mixed doubles rarely generates much fanfare and at the grand slams it has come to represent more opportunities for trophies and prize money for doubles specialists.