John Millman doesn’t want to sugarcoat anything a big move announced this week as the former Australian tennis star says the US Open completely changing the mixed doubles event is a clear message that they want top names competing in the tournament and ultimately generating more profit.
This year, the mixed doubles tournament at Flushing Meadows will take place during the qualifying week, between August 19-20, with pretty much a Fast-4 format being used.
Only 16 teams will play and singles ranking – not doubles – will be the determining factor who gets in.
And since eight pairs will enter directly and the rest through a wildcard, the US Open organizers have a lot of room to potentially select who they want in the tournament.
Also, there will be a record $1 million prize money – and since it will be a very short tournament taking place before the main tournament starts – it could definitely lure some major names to compete in the mixed dubs event.
Millman: There is a big drive to make the qualifying week a bigger deal commercially
“It is something that has been identified by tournament organizers. They want to get the big-name players playing more often,” the former world No. 9 told Nine.
“By playing this mixed doubles tournament at the US Open in the qualifying week, it feels to me as a spectator looking in now that there is a big drive to make the qualifying week more of a bigger deal commercially or with more interest.
“We saw this at the Australian Open this year with a lot of ticketed exhibition matches being played.
“No longer is this being called qualifying week, it’s been branded as Opening Week.”
To no one’s surprise, players focused on doubles aren’t happy a bit about the US Open decision.
When August comes, it will be interesting to see if the tournament manages to get pairs like Paula Badosa/Stefanos Tsitsipas, Taylor Fritz/Coco Gauff or Iga Swiatek/Hubert Hurkacz to play.
Tennis World USA