New York – Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori aren’t even sure if they can defend their U.S. Open Tag Team Championship. The organizers have modified the game because they want singles superstars, not double the experts.
They not only returned to New York, but also to the top.
The Italian beat No. 3 seeds Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7 (10-6) on Wednesday night to win four games in two days and win $1 million, a huge increase in revenues against New York last year, a format that doesn’t look like that.
Errani and Vavassori are among many critics of the change in the event that shut all other traditional doubles pairings out, but only smiles and many hugs after the game was finalized and took a quick lead in front of a large crowd inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I think it’s important to us,” Vavassori said. “Like, I have to say, the plan is important, too, because it’s really a statement that doubles can get better. The stadium is packed. People love it. If something doesn’t work, like we’re showing it’s working today. Like people are crazy.”
It’s an environment that doubles players rarely enjoy, and when our open organizers overhauled, what they were looking to move it to Sunday before the singles game began, hoping that the most famous tennis player could play.
Many of them did. But in the end, the event belongs to the doubles duo.
Eight teams of 16 teams are ranked by players’ joint singles, while the rest are awarded wildcards. Errani suspected the Italian would get one.
They ended up being the first repetitive mixed doubles champions on Flushing Meadows since Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray in 2018-19. Both sides have repeatedly stated that they represent a number of doubles players who have never had the chance to go to New York with them this year.
“I think it’s suitable for them too,” Errani said.
The event attracted U.S. open singles champions Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka and Daniil Medvedev, who all lost on the first day. Even without them, almost all seats were full in three matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium Wednesday night, with the roof closed after most of the afternoon after the rain.
Ruud acknowledged that the American Tennis Association changes took bold risks, and critics say it turned the championship into a champion, shortening four games in the first three rounds and becoming a glorious exhibition rather than the 32 games in the past two weeks. But even players who specialize in doubles agree that the event is more focused than they are used to.
“Any time you have such a crowd, how can we keep going?” Christian Harrison said, losing 4-2 to Errani and Vavassori in the semifinals with Danielle Collins. “I mean, an unreal night. I won’t forget this night.”
Swiatek and Ruud led the way with Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper 3-5, 5-3 (10-8) in another semifinal, fighting back in the 8-4 deficit in the finals.
Second-placed Swiatek, six-time Grand Slam singles champion and Ruud made three major singles finals before performing well in the finals.
But they couldn’t match the Italians’ doubles ability, who won the second major title at this year’s French Open. Vavassori’s height and continuous networking moves online, even Swiatek and Ruud, which is a tough goal, namely Swiatek and Ruud, two accurate ball shooters from the baseline.
“I think doubles show that we are important and know how to play doubles,” Errani said. “In doubling, it’s not only good, it’s good to play, it’s good to return. There are many other things that aren’t easy.”
Errani is one of the most accomplished women’s doubles players of all time, winning a professional grand slam with former partner Roberta Vinci, and 2024 Olympic gold medals against Jasmine Paolini, who quit Swiatek after she lost Swiatek in Cincinnati Final on Monday night, cheering in the crowd.
Swiatek chose to stay and shared $400,000 with Ruud, twice the winnings of Errani and Vavassori last year.
