Speaking of goofy, they're playing sets to four games, not six, and using no-ad scoring, right? This may be fun, but it's borderline shameful to claim this will be a legitimate, official, trophies-and-checks-and-history-books mixed-doubles competition at a Grand Slam event.
(And didn't Rybakina and Fritz win the mixed doubles exhibition at Indian Wells? They must have exchanged a few words.)
Zero interest in seeing teams like Djokovic & Danilovic or Bencic & Zverev—certainly not over the likes of magically skilled players like Zielinski & Hsieh or Errani & Vavassori. If the latter team as defending champions, especially, don’t get into the draw, tennis is big-time broken.
As a mixed doubles fan, I’m massively annoyed that I’ll have one fewer opportunity this year to watch high-level mixed teams compete. And irritated that the top 10 players will get still richer while the struggling doubles players will be forced lose a huge chance to earn one of the biggest paychecks of the year.
Also, the format is insulting. It’s like the USTA geniuses sat around and thought, “How can we make doubles dumber and a much worse product?” It’s a travesty that this will be a Slam title on some pair’s resume. I really, really hope none of the other Slams follow suit.
He's wrong about Naomi and Nick not knowing each other. They have the same agent. Own the same pickleball team. Support each other during mental health crises when nobody else will. Appear on each others podcasts. Have played mixed doubles before...
If one were to break down Ben's post in some quantifiable way the bulk of it would be celebrity-itis People Magazine commentary; this is not Ben's fault, it's the nature of the exercise, but it does speak to the draw of this, errrr, draw, and the USTA's thinking in crafting the exo. Oh, sorry, event...
Between the butchered scoring format, the entry method for players ("Hmmm, who'll sell the most tickets? I know, let's include Kyrgios even though he's not posted any meaningful results since, when was it?")*, and the dismissal of all the other established mixed teams other than last year's title holders (and even that wasn't announced at the outset), this is an affront to all the mixed teams who've won USTA gold balls in real competitions over the years, to say nothing of USOpen champions of the past who had to navigate real knockout draws.
* I mean no ill-will to Kyrgios. The plain fact of the matter, however, is that he *hasn't* had strong results for some time. He'll draw attendees, but that's not the same as being entered in an event created as a sporting competition.
The Aussie Paul McNamara (if you know your doubles history you’ll know his importance) seems quietly furious about this - he doesn’t think it’s legitimate. I had a convo on X with him about this and while it is within the ITF rulebook to deem this a Grand Slam title even with this format, he sounds very unhappy about it. But you can’t argue with what looks like success. The mixed doubles format in the pre-AO event in Australia - name escapes me - seemed to go pretty well this year.
Just another reason to skip the Open. A ridiculous mixed “tournament” and no men’s or women’s doubles until late in the first real week. An affront to doubles specialists and to doubles fans. And add the ticket prices with nothing but resale tickets available at the beginning of the general sale. My love for this tournament is over, and I know I’m not alone.
Didn't Carlos imply that 'the tournament' asked him and Emma to pair together? The randomness of some of these pairings makes it feel like several of them just indicated their interest as individuals and the tournament decided how to pair the spares.
(Also the Carlos/Emma dating rumors seem to have been fabricated from thin air unless I'm missing something.)
Speaking of goofy, they're playing sets to four games, not six, and using no-ad scoring, right? This may be fun, but it's borderline shameful to claim this will be a legitimate, official, trophies-and-checks-and-history-books mixed-doubles competition at a Grand Slam event.
(And didn't Rybakina and Fritz win the mixed doubles exhibition at Indian Wells? They must have exchanged a few words.)
The Amazing Race reference....chef's kiss!
Zero interest in seeing teams like Djokovic & Danilovic or Bencic & Zverev—certainly not over the likes of magically skilled players like Zielinski & Hsieh or Errani & Vavassori. If the latter team as defending champions, especially, don’t get into the draw, tennis is big-time broken.
As a mixed doubles fan, I’m massively annoyed that I’ll have one fewer opportunity this year to watch high-level mixed teams compete. And irritated that the top 10 players will get still richer while the struggling doubles players will be forced lose a huge chance to earn one of the biggest paychecks of the year.
Also, the format is insulting. It’s like the USTA geniuses sat around and thought, “How can we make doubles dumber and a much worse product?” It’s a travesty that this will be a Slam title on some pair’s resume. I really, really hope none of the other Slams follow suit.
disappointed that osaka wants to play with scumbag, kyrgios.
He's wrong about Naomi and Nick not knowing each other. They have the same agent. Own the same pickleball team. Support each other during mental health crises when nobody else will. Appear on each others podcasts. Have played mixed doubles before...
If one were to break down Ben's post in some quantifiable way the bulk of it would be celebrity-itis People Magazine commentary; this is not Ben's fault, it's the nature of the exercise, but it does speak to the draw of this, errrr, draw, and the USTA's thinking in crafting the exo. Oh, sorry, event...
Between the butchered scoring format, the entry method for players ("Hmmm, who'll sell the most tickets? I know, let's include Kyrgios even though he's not posted any meaningful results since, when was it?")*, and the dismissal of all the other established mixed teams other than last year's title holders (and even that wasn't announced at the outset), this is an affront to all the mixed teams who've won USTA gold balls in real competitions over the years, to say nothing of USOpen champions of the past who had to navigate real knockout draws.
* I mean no ill-will to Kyrgios. The plain fact of the matter, however, is that he *hasn't* had strong results for some time. He'll draw attendees, but that's not the same as being entered in an event created as a sporting competition.
The Aussie Paul McNamara (if you know your doubles history you’ll know his importance) seems quietly furious about this - he doesn’t think it’s legitimate. I had a convo on X with him about this and while it is within the ITF rulebook to deem this a Grand Slam title even with this format, he sounds very unhappy about it. But you can’t argue with what looks like success. The mixed doubles format in the pre-AO event in Australia - name escapes me - seemed to go pretty well this year.
Just another reason to skip the Open. A ridiculous mixed “tournament” and no men’s or women’s doubles until late in the first real week. An affront to doubles specialists and to doubles fans. And add the ticket prices with nothing but resale tickets available at the beginning of the general sale. My love for this tournament is over, and I know I’m not alone.
Didn't Carlos imply that 'the tournament' asked him and Emma to pair together? The randomness of some of these pairings makes it feel like several of them just indicated their interest as individuals and the tournament decided how to pair the spares.
(Also the Carlos/Emma dating rumors seem to have been fabricated from thin air unless I'm missing something.)