By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Photo credit: USTA/US Open Facebook
Fans were on their feet inside a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The biggest stand came on the court below.
Inspired Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori beat back all comers scoring a dramatic 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 win over third seeds Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud to successfully defend their US Open Mixed Doubles championship on Wednesday night.
It was more than a masterful mixed defense—it was a declaration of doubles strength for the Italian pair, who made it their mission to show doubles players belonged in the newly-revamped field along with singles stars.
“I think tonight was amazing. The atmosphere was crazy,” Vavassori said. “The last match was unbelievable also the level. I think so many good points, so many highlights.
“I think these two days will be really important for doubles in the future because we show that doubles player are great players. I think this product can grow in the future.
“There were so many legends in the past that played doubles. I was speaking with [former singles and doubles No. 1] John McEnroe in the locker room. He said to me for me was really important for him to come to me and say, You’re doing something good for doubles. So I think it will be really important in the future to know that it’s a product that can grow.”
The champions’ check grew considerably too.
The Italian pair earned a US Open Mixed Doubles record $1 Million on Wednesday night after taking home $200,000 for their run to the 2024 title culminating in a pulsating win over Americans Taylor Townsend and Donald Young, playing his farewell match, in the 2024 US Open Mixed Doubles.
Errani, who is reigning Olympic gold-medal doubles champion with Jasmine Paolini, said the record payday is even more important for doubles players.
“I think like this year, like taking out work from the doubles, I mean, everybody’s playing also for money. I think it’s important also for the other doubles players,” Errani said.
While money is a motivation, the pair also proved the subtle skills required in doubles—moving in unison, chemistry, communication, poaching, finesse and angles—are assets sometimes undervalued by singles stars and some fans even though more recreational players of a certain age play doubles than singles in the U.S.
“I think in doubles we showed is very important know how to play doubles. In doubles is not just serving good, hitting good, returning good,” Errani said. “There are many other things that are not easy. I think the doubles players improve that things a lot to see, to cross, many other thing that is not only hitting the ball.
“We show that you have to think, be smart. On doubles there are more things than hitting the ball. Singles has other things and doubles has another things. We show that we are good on doubles, you know, to change the game, to know what to do.”
Ruud said Errani’s skill setting up the active Vavassori presented major problems for the singles stars.
“Just they fit because Andrea moves so well at the net. Singles players don’t think about crossing when someone serves at 70 miles an hour,” Ruud said. “It’s like a fear for us of crossing. We’re not used to that. We’re not used to seeing that on our own return.
“The most frustrating thing is you feel like you hit a good return, he’s there, he puts away a volley. You have it all going in your head, Don’t hit where he is, don’t hit where he is. He covers a lot in the middle, then suddenly he chooses a side.”
Credit Swiatek and Ruud, who had never partnered before, for their finals run as well. The 2022 US Open singles champion Swiatek and 2022 US Open singles finalist Ruud rallied from a set and a break down—and 4-8 down in the decisive tiebreaker—beating top-seeded Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper 3-5, 5-3, 10-8 in a stirring comeback. Pegula volleyed better than Draper in that semifinal defeat.
Both player—and fan participation—prove the new format is a success, Ruud said.
“It’s been really fun,” Ruud said. “It’s been an honor and really fun to share the court with Iga and other players. It’s the first time they’re doing this. I know it’s created a lot of reaction, somewhat bold to do it.
“You can’t argue that it’s not great for fans because you have full packed Arthur Ashe at midnight on a Wednesday of the quallie week. How often do you get that? It was really fun to see the crowd getting into it. It really pumped us up. Even though we were down 6-3, 5-4, them serving, we still felt like we were alive. The crowd really helped us in the second.”
The lesson from this newly-reimaged US Open Mixed Doubles is that doubles itself is viable and marketable when presented with a mix of both singles stars and doubles standouts. Vavassori advocates expanding the tournament to 32 teams to include top doubles players.
“Maybe you can put also the narrative about singles against doubles. Also today was two doubles players at the top of the game and two singles players at the top of the game,” Vavassori said. “Was also a good matchup also for the crowd. But yeah, maybe one round more.
“The initiative is very good. To see a stadium fully packed for mixed doubles is something that we didn’t expect honestly. We have to give credit to the tournament to create something that was really worth it. But we can do something, maybe adjust something in the future if is something that maybe we continue like this.
“Maybe it will be great to give the opportunity for sure to other doubles players that deserve it. Arevalo was No. 1 in the world and didn’t have an opportunity to play. Siniakova that is winning so many Grand Slams. I think, as I said, there were a lot of positives, some negatives. But it’s something we can work on in the future.”
