Tennis fans were left reeling after the wave of withdrawals from the 2025 US Open mixed doubles event, with Tommy Paul, Emma Navarro, and Paula Badosa all stepping away. The announcement came just days before the competition was set to begin.
The USTA had promoted this revamped two-day event at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Aug. 19 and 20 as a high-profile event, pairing top singles stars in unusual combinations and offering $1 million in prize money. Instead, the last-minute shakeup frustrated fans, players scrambling for new partners, and questions about the format’s viability surfaced across social media.
What Was the Fan Response to Tommy Paul and Emma Navarro Stepping Away From Star-Studded Pairings at the US Open?
This year’s mixed doubles was designed to be a marquee attraction, drawing on the appeal of unconventional pairings. Fans were expecting star matchups such as Naomi Osaka with Nick Kyrgios, Emma Raducanu alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Elena Rybakina with Taylor Fritz, and Iga Świątek partnering with Casper Ruud.
Other teams included Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe, and Olga Danilović, joining Novak Djokovic. However, the unexpected withdrawals have disrupted the original lineup and raised concerns about relying heavily on singles stars to participate in a condensed, high-stakes event.
US Open Mixed Doubles Championship update: pic.twitter.com/Uo26UZ0oKp
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 15, 2025
The official US Open account posted updates regarding the withdrawals on X on Aug. 15, triggering a wave of conversation among fans. Many expressed frustration over the constant reshuffling and questioned the credibility of the mixed doubles concept.
“Need every made up pair to w/d and leave it to the doubles specialists,” one fan tweeted, while another wrote, “Don’t bring this social experiment back next year. Please.”
need every made up pair to w/d and leave it to the doubles specialists https://t.co/L4EvfdWJd0
— ingrid 🥸 (@morozhenoice) August 16, 2025
Don’t bring this social experiment back next year.
Please.— Ozan Kabak Yes He Played Centre Back (@OzanKabakYes) August 15, 2025
Criticism of tournament management was also widespread: “This is getting ridiculous and they are making ‘rules’ on the fly,” noted one follower.
This is getting ridiculous and they are making ‘rules’ on the fly.
— DJHTweets (@DJHTweets) August 16, 2025
Others directed attention to professional doubles players who were overlooked in favor of star singles players. One user wrote, “Stop pretending this is legit. This is dumb and just stops the real mixed doubles professionals.” At the same time, another posted, “Please show more respect to the professional doubles players. This silly idea is a huge loss to them.”
Fans also speculated on the challenges facing individual players. One comment highlighted the tricky timing for Sinner, who is in the Cincinnati Open semifinal, writing, “Jannik probably doesn’t get another partner anyway if he wins his semifinal match. This starts like a day or two after the Cincy final.”
Another suggested that the event should be more heavily dominated by doubles specialists, noting, “What a mess. Maybe have doubles players play in it instead?”
How Did Last-Minute Changes Reshape the Mixed Doubles Lineup?
The withdrawals also forced dramatic last-minute reshuffling. Paul, slated to partner with fellow American Jessica Pegula, withdrew for reasons not disclosed. Badosa ended her partnership with Jack Draper a week ago due to a back injury that had been lingering since Wimbledon.
As a result, Draper and Pegula joined forces, their combined singles ranking of nine guaranteeing direct entry into the draw despite the upheaval. The USTA’s rules allow original partners to confirm new teammates until 2 p.m. on Aug. 17, provided their combined singles ranking meets the eligibility cutoff.
Navarro, who was to pair with ATP World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, pulled out to prioritize the WTA 500 Monterrey Open, which runs Aug. 18-23. This left the Italian with limited time to find a new partner before the Aug. 17 entry deadline.
Meanwhile, WTA World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov also withdrew. Dimitrov continues his recovery from a pectoral muscle injury sustained at Wimbledon. At the same time, Sabalenka confirmed she would not partner with a replacement, leaving fans to speculate on whether further adjustments might follow.
