The two-day mixed doubles showcase at the U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament culminated in a tense match tiebreak as Wednesday night bled into midnight in New York. The showpiece of the mixed doubles championship came Tuesday afternoon, with the returns of Serena Williams (after four years away from tennis) and Carlos Alcaraz (after four months out with a wrist injury).
A Late-Night Thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium
The victory gave both players their first career Grand Slam titles, though under rules vastly different from traditional major events. The reimagined version of mixed doubles will never be to the liking of those who struggle with the concept that a Grand Slam title can be decided in under 48 hours. But there is no question it now commands more attention from a global audience. Instead of the mixed doubles primarily being an event for grounds pass holders, the semi-finals and final were played under the lights in the night session, ensuring a much bigger television audience.
How the Czech Pair Claimed the $1 Million Prize
Jakub Mensik texted Karolina Muchova on the eve of the U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament so they could coordinate their outfits. Looking good on the court is important, he figured. Now they look like a million bucks. The Czech duo, wearing the same pink tops and maroon bottoms they settled on Monday, pulled out match tiebreakers in both matches on the second night of the two-day event, fueled by Mensik’s powerful serve combined with some good hands near the net. I think at the end, really the matching outfit made the difference for us,
Muchova said. The Czech team, sported matching pink-top, maroon-bottom outfits, then delivered in the second-match tie-break against Indian Wells champions Bencic and Cobolli to win the title.
Muchova and Mensik got off to a fast start in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday, with the hard-serving Mensik hammering an ace past Bencic on set point to claim the opener in less than 30 minutes. Bencic drilled a return winner to break serve for a 3-1 lead in the second and the Swiss player later levelled the match when her forehand clipped the net cord and skipped beyond Muchova.
In the deciding 10-point match tiebreak, Mensik’s powerful serve and his play at the net took over. Asked afterward what it was like relying on Mensik’s serve late in tense tiebreaks, Muchova said: 100% confidence. I’m just at the net covering my side and I’m like, ‘ace it out please so I can just stand on my side.’ He’s an unbelievable player and an unbelievable server. It’s pretty easy for me to play with him.
He put away the final with an ace to earn $1 million for him and Muchova to share ($500,000 each).
Karolína Muchová, via The Associated Press
Bencic and Cobolli reached their first mixed doubles final together by beating Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils 4-5, 4-1, [10-5], having dropped just one set all tournament before the final. Cobolli turned to Bencic on court afterward: Thank you for playing with me.
A Revamped Format and Star-Studded Field
Even with the introduction of a qualifying competition this year, specialist doubles players still have limited opportunities in an event now built around the singles stars. But those who do make it into the draw are competing for a prize that is five times what is was under the old format. Winners under the old format earned $200,000, whereas Muchová and Menšík split a $1m grand prize.
For a second consecutive year, the new event delivered high-profile singles stars to the grounds, including Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz. However, to the players who remained in the field after Williams and Alcaraz exited in the quarter-finals, the real highlight was Wednesday night’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with its $1m in prize money on the line. Their win capped an event that, in a reversal of recent years, was dominated by singles players instead of doubles specialists.
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