The US Open stands at the center of a heated debate after tennis legend Martina Navratilova strongly criticized the tournament’s new mixed doubles format. The controversy erupted when World No. 1 Jannik Sinner talked about his unexpected pairing with Emma Navarro by tournament officials without any prior communication between the players.
Speaking at a Wimbledon press conference, Sinner shared details about the unusual arrangement: “It was very unexpected, to be honest. I just met her yesterday for the first time. We never talked. We never texted to each other. It’s actually a funny story. The tournament, they wanted us to kind of play together because certain teams were already set up.”
This revelation sparked outrage from Navratilova, who expressed her concerns through a series of tweets.
The tennis icon, who won 10 mixed doubles Grand Slam titles during her career, did not hold back in her criticism of the USTA’s decision. The fact that the new format prioritizes entertainment over competition is what got on Navratilova’s nerves.
USTA’s Controversial Format Changes
The United States Tennis Association announced major changes to the mixed doubles championship earlier this year, moving the event from the main tournament week to August 19-20, 2025, during qualifying week. The new format reduces the field from 32 teams to just 16, with eight teams earning direct entry based on combined singles rankings and eight receiving wild card entries.
A STAR-STUDDED 🤩 lineup of teams have officially entered the reimagined US Open Mixed Doubles Championship!
More info: https://t.co/bIMJGbf3qI pic.twitter.com/Hw1yA87pgj
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) June 17, 2025
The matches will follow a shortened format with sets played to four games instead of six, featuring no-ad scoring and tiebreaks at 4-4. Only the final will be played in the traditional format to six games. The prize money has been significantly increased to $1 million for the winning team, up from the previous $200,000.
Martina Navratilova’s Frustration Over the Format Changes
Navratilova expressed her thoughts on the new changes and the pairing done by the USTA on X. She wrote: “It’s an exhibition and I am fine with that. Shame for the people who specialize in doubles and mixed and many will miss out on the opportunity to play and make some good money. I hope it’s not counted as a real tournament.”
It’s an exhibition and I am fine with that. Shame for the people who specialize in doubles and mixed and many will miss out on the opportunity to play and make some good money. I hope it’s not counted as a real tournament.
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) June 29, 2025
When a fan explained that the tournament will count as a standard GS Mixed, the tennis legend voiced her frustration. She stated the decision as wrong as she wrote: “How can it count when it is an exhibition where highly ranked doubles players who don’t get a chance to play at all? That is just wrong. Makes a mockery of the title…just imo.”
How can it count when it is an exhibition where highly ranked doubles players who don’t get a chance to play at all? That is just wrong. Makes a mockery of the title…just imo
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) June 29, 2025
This new format faced sharp criticism from the defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori as they declared the changes as “profoundly wrong” and a “profound injustice that disrespects an entire category of players.”
