When 11-time Grand Slam doubles champion Kateřina Siniaková watched Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison walk onto the court at Flushing Meadows, she felt something wasn’t right. The Czech star had just been forced out of the mixed doubles after partner Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal, yet somehow an American duo had taken their place. What she learned next would spark controversy far beyond the tennis courts.
What Did Kateřina Siniaková Say About Danielle Collins’ Inclusion After Jannik Sinner’s US Open Mixed Doubles Withdrawal?
The revamped US Open mixed doubles captivated a roaring Flushing Meadows crowd as 16 teams competed for a $1 million prize over two days. Eight teams earned their spots through combined singles rankings, while only a few doubles specialists, including Sara Errani, Andrea Vavassori and Siniaková, were granted wildcards.
However, the doubles specialist and reigning Wimbledon mixed-doubles champion faced a heartbreaking turn at the event. She was forced to exit the mixed doubles after her partner, Jannik Sinner, withdrew due to his sudden illness during the Cincinnati final.
Although Sinner was among the marquee names for the event, he wasn’t Siniaková’s first choice. Speaking to Tenisovysvet, she explained that her US Open 2025 plans began with hopes of a mixed doubles wild card alongside Marcel Arévalo. Their request was denied just a day before the tournament.
“As soon as the organizers announced the changes, it was clear that it was going to be wild. I didn’t know what it would be like until the Sunday before the tournament. I didn’t fly until Monday, so I would have gotten off the plane anyway. I didn’t want to fly here in advance because I didn’t believe they would give us a card. And on Sunday, they said they wouldn’t give us one,” she said.
Although they were among the favorites to win, Sinner’s sudden withdrawal affected both players. Siniaková explained that tournament rules barred new pairings once the draw was finalized, forcing their automatic exit from the mixed doubles.
“Unfortunately, I expected it to be like that. The rule is that once it’s drawn, you can’t pair up with anyone else. That’s how it is normally in doubles. It just wasn’t possible,” she said.
The Czech expressed surprise that the US Open didn’t follow its guideline that the team replacing them should hold the highest combined ranking. Reflecting on Harrison and Collins’ inclusion, Siniaková questioned the decision process.
“I was also curious how those two got there as the first alternates, when the rankings were supposed to be based on singles. I think they changed it as they needed to. It was clear to me that they would put Americans there,” she said.
Siniaková argued that pairing singles and doubles players would be fairer, while also criticizing the two-day format for winning a Grand Slam.
“For me, it would be more interesting if they at least combined singles players with doubles players. Even the format of someone winning a Grand Slam trophy in two days is not fair,” she added.
How Did Siniaková React to the Support Following Her US Open Mixed Doubles Exit?
While the outcome proved disappointing for the 11-time Grand Slam champion, Siniaková was grateful to those who supported her. She expressed pleasant surprise at how many articles highlighted her case and how people rallied behind her situation.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how much it was discussed and that people were on my side so that I could play. There were also quite a few articles,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Czech’s singles campaign at Flushing Meadows proved even more disappointing. She fell to home favorite Hailey Baptiste 5-7, 3-6 in the first round. Undeterred, Siniaková now looks to make her mark in women’s doubles, entering as a top seed alongside Taylor Townsend.
