US Open mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori hope they have earned respect for their event after overcoming a field packed with singles stars to successfully defend their title.
The Italians held off six-times Grand Slam singles winner Iga Swiatek and three-times major finalist Casper Ruud 6-3 5-7 10-6 in the final in front of a raucous crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.
It was hardly the scene fans have come to expect of the event, which is often lost in a schedule dominated by singles action, as organizers moved the competition to its own place on the calendar during the week before the singles main draw.
“These two days will be really important for doubles in the future,” said Vavassori. “We showed that doubles players are great players and this product can grow.”
The new format was an undeniable marketing success with a star-studded lineup that included Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
Hundreds of fans had lined up in the rain outside Arthur Ashe Stadium 90 minutes before the first of two semifinal matches on Wednesday, hardly the crowd one might have expected for the penultimate stage of the mixed doubles in past years.
The star names drew big crowds but the chemistry between Italians Errani and Vavassori, cultivated over a two-year on-court partnership that also saw them win the French Open title this year, proved decisive.
Errani hoped it showed that committed doubles teams — many of whom were shut out of the field — have plenty to offer.
“I think this one is also for all the doubles players that couldn’t play this tournament,” Errani said as she and Vavassori accepted the trophy. “I think this one is also for them.”
Errani and Vavassori roared to a 4-1 lead in the opening set of the championship match and after Swiatek and Ruud regained one break, closed it on a confident hold from Vavassori.
Down a break at 4-5 in the second, Swiatek and Ruud won three straight games to force the 10-point match tiebreaker.
The Italians grabbed a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker and held on.
“Congratulations,” Swiatek said at the trophy presentation. “You proved that, I guess, mixed doubles players are smarter tactically than singles players.
“But we pushed until the end. We tried to make it competitive.”
The first three rounds — including the semifinals on Wednesday night — were played with short sets with no-advantage scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set, before the final reverted to traditional sets with a 10-point match tiebreak.
Swiatek and Ruud had clawed their way past top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper with a 3-5, 5-3, 10-8 semifinal victory, winning the last six points to advance.
Errani and Vavassori romped past the American duo Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison 4-2, 4-2 to reach the final.
Vavassori admitted he and Errani were on a “mission” to prove themselves against the singles stars.
But both relished the electric atmosphere under the lights on the jam-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.
“It’s the court where I feel goosebumps every time here,” Errani said.
Vavassori also enjoyed the “amazing atmosphere” and thanked organizers for putting mixed doubles in the spotlight.
“I have to say that we showed today that doubles is a great product,” he said. “I think it was amazing to play on this court with so many people and I have to say thanks from the bottom of my heart for the atmosphere.”
