Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori made history at the US Open, holding on to their mixed doubles crown with a dramatic win over Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud. The Italians battled hard and came through 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 late at night in New York.
What made this triumph even sweeter was the backdrop. With the tournament organisers revamping the mixed doubles event to feature more singles stars and fewer specialist pairings, Errani and Vavassori were left as the only established doubles team in the 16-pair draw. Their place was even under threat until they were handed a late wildcard.
“We have been on a mission,” Vavassori said, while Errani dedicated the win to all doubles players left sidelined by the new format.
Big Prize, Bigger Point
The revamped event came with a huge prize pot of $1m (£740,000) — five times more than last year — to lure big names like Swiatek, Ruud, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic. Yet, in the end, it was the doubles experts who showed their class, proving that tactical know-how and team chemistry still matter most.
Swiatek, who congratulated the champions with a smile, admitted: “I guess you proved doubles players are smarter tactically than singles players.”
The Road to Glory
Errani and Vavassori fought their way past Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison in the semi-finals, before stepping up once again in the final. Their opponents, Swiatek and Ruud, had shown resilience earlier by saving four match points against Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper, but this time they could not complete another comeback.
The Italians sealed the win with grit and joy, finishing it off with a playful moment as Vavassori lifted Errani into the air to celebrate.
Controversy Still Lingers
The US Open’s big changes to mixed doubles haven’t pleased everyone. Many doubles players felt pushed aside as the new format favoured singles stars. Errani and Vavassori even called the changes “profoundly wrong” in a statement before the event.
Some in the tennis world argue the revamp has devalued the title, with talk of “asterisks” next to the winners. But the electric final night told a different story.
From a patriotic flag display by the Marine Corps to DJs spinning New York tunes, the final felt like a show as much as a match. With Anna Wintour courtside and a packed crowd cheering until the end, it was a night to remember.
A Win Beyond the Trophy
For Errani and Vavassori, this victory was more than just another Grand Slam medal. It was a statement for their sport.
“We showed that doubles is a great product,” said Vavassori. “In the future we need more marketing and visibility.”
And on a night when singles superstars were supposed to steal the show, the doubles pair reminded everyone why their craft still matters.
