Errani-Vavassori beat Swiatek-Ruud to win revamped US Open mixed doubles and defend their title

New Delhi: Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori defended their U.S. Open mixed doubles title after edging past No. 3 seeds Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7 (10-6) in the final. Errani and Vavassori’s win meant that a traditional team finished on top of the revamped tournament dominated by singles stars.

The Italians beat No. 3 seeds Swiatek and Ruud in straight sets 6-3, 5-7 (10-6) and earned $1 million after winning four matches over two days. The prize money of the revamped event was significantly bigger than last year, in a completely different format.

Errani and Vavassori, who voiced their concerns over the changes to the event that kept out every other traditional doubles pairing, were all smiles after the win. After cruising to win in the opening set, the Italian pair built a quick lead in the match tiebreaker and eventually held out for a comfortable win in front of a big crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I think it was amazing to play in this court with so many people, and I have to say thanks from the bottom of my heart for the atmosphere,” Vavassori said before receiving the trophy.

Doubles specialists dominate U.S. Open

While the wishes of the U.S. Open organisers after the overhaul came true as several singles stars played in the mixed doubles before the main tournament starts Sunday but in the end, the event belonged to the doubles specialists.

Errani and Vavassori were not the confirmed starters and didn’t know they would get the chance to defend their titles as eight teams in the 16-team field qualified by their players’ combined singles rankings, while the remaining teams recieved wild cards.

The Italians were lucky to get the wild cards and became the first repeat mixed doubles champions in New York since Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray in 2018-19.