Drama, star power, and a twist on tradition: the 2025 US Open mixed doubles gives tennis fans something to discuss. With top singles names joining forces, a new scoring format, and a spotlighted schedule, everyone in the arena is watching to see which duo handles the shake-up and which falls short. How will this wild format play out, and what surprises does it hold for players and fans?
What Is The New US Doubles Open Scoring System?
The 2025 US Open mixed doubles event cranks up the excitement with a smaller, superstar-filled draw. Just 16 pairs made the cut, with headline talents like Carlos Alcaraz teamed up with Emma Raducanu, Novak Djokovic partnered with Olga Danilovic, Iga Swiatek alongside Casper Ruud, and Venus Williams joining Reilly Opelka.
Organizers built this format to attract fans, piling the big names into a focused two-day “Fan Week” designed for packed stands and high energy.
Didn’t get the win, crushed the vibes 🤗
The crossover we never knew we needed 😍@carlosalcaraz @EmmaRaducanu #USOpen pic.twitter.com/uWvDMpy0cU
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 19, 2025
In this new setup, just eight teams got in automatically using combined singles rankings, while eight more received wildcards. The draw is shorter and matches are packed in over Tuesday and Wednesday before the main singles event kicks off. Every team gets a shot at the spotlight and a bit more rest, making for fresher competition and bigger crowds.
Beyond the names, the format itself flips the script. All rounds before the final feature best-of-three sets, but each set goes to just four games, not the usual six. Plus, there’s no-ad scoring: at 40–40, it’s one point for the win. Split sets? Instead of a deciding third set, it’s straight to a pressure-filled 10-point tiebreak.
When it comes to the final, organizers keep it six games per set using the traditional tiebreak if things reach 6-all, but if the finalists split sets, it’s one last 10-point tiebreak to decide the match. The result: faster matches with sharp tension and no time for players to settle in– every moment counts.
What Does the Early Drama Mean for Fan Favorites Like Alcaraz and Raducanu?
First round action tossed up big moments right from the start. All eyes were on Alcaraz and Raducanu, but the pair crashed out fast, losing 4-2, 4-2 to Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, with fans packing the stands.
Meanwhile, Swiatek and Ruud breezed through their opener. Heading into the semifinals, Swiatek/Ruud squares off against top seeds Pegula/Draper, while defending champs Errani/Vavassori look set for a fight with Collins/Harrison. The schedule packs all this drama into two days, meaning fans must keep up or risk missing the action.
Add to that a bigger prize pot: this year, the mixed doubles event is throwing out $1 million, with $250,000 for the winning pair. Compared to the less than $200,000 Grand Slam winners usually split, this new setup puts mixed doubles in a far brighter spotlight. Fans can catch every point live in prime time– another first for US Open mixed doubles.
Tournament officials call it an experiment, but early signs show packed crowds and strong TV numbers. If this pace keeps up, the format could be here to stay, changing what mixed doubles looks like for years.
