USTA revamps US Open mixed doubles format, boosting attendance and viewership
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 26, 2026, 5:17 PM
Last updated Aug 26, 2026
The USTA has transformed the US Open mixed doubles event to increase interest and engagement. Significant changes included moving the tournament to the last week of August, introducing a million-dollar prize, and shortening match formats. These alterations led to a two-day sellout at Arthur Ashe Stadium, drawing 78,000 fans and attracting over 343,000 viewers on ESPN platforms. While the revamped championship has garnered attention, criticisms remain about fairness towards traditional doubles players adversely affected by the new entry criteria focusing on singles rankings.
- •Mixed doubles finals were historically overshadowed by singles events.
- •Entry criteria now favor combined singles rankings over doubles expertise.
- •Attendance reached a record high, reflecting growing public interest.
- •Critics claim changes have diminished opportunities for seasoned doubles specialists.
- •The event was broadcasted across 17 networks in over 170 countries.
- 5:17 PMYahoo Sports — The US Open Mixed Doubles Are Unfair But They’re Also Working
"Mixed doubles had a problem before the USTA decided to blow it up, and the problem was simple: nobody was watching. For years, the US Open mixed doubles was in the background, overshadowed by men's and women's singles. It existed, it was contested, it produced champions, and virtually no one outside of the doubles community …
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