The Australian Open may have just finished, but all eyes are turning to the other Grand Slams, namely the US Open.
The New York tournament has now hit the headlines, with the US Open mixed doubles to be played in opening week, also known as Fan Week.
Played before the singles main draw has even taken place, it will also feature an increased purse, while the number of pairs taking place has been halved from 32 to 16.
In further changes, US Open mixed doubles matches will take place on the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong courts.
Moreover, Wimbledon is now the only Monday-starting Grand Slam after the US Open confirmed a Sunday start from 2025.
Andy Roddick says US Open mixed doubles change ‘will work’
Former world number one and 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick has now shared his verdict on the changes, suggesting what it means for mixed doubles moving forward.
“This is a big move,” he said on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast. “As evidence by taking back Sunday that precedent has been set. This is going to work.
“Now people are going to be p***** and there will be people who don’t benefit from this. But I know this will work.
“It will be our version of some sort of All Star weekend but with significance and a consequence of winning or losing.
“It’s a big idea, it’s a great idea and what does this do to doubles as a whole? Because when this works, we are in a copycat world with the Slams, everyone starts on Sunday.
“Precedent is for the people who lead that and then you guys do it [change to Sunday start] and it is normalised. What happens to doubles as a whole even outside of the scope of Grand Slam tennis when this works?”
Players involved in discussions before US Open mixed doubles change
It seems that all four Grand Slams are gradually changing over time, ultimately in a bid to keep up with the times and indeed with other sports.
While Wimbledon continues to stick to its traditional starting date, it has decided to abolish its line judges for the tournament this summer.
READ MORE: Angry tennis fans react after Wimbledon makes rule change for 2025 tournament
Returning to the US Open, however, which is the fourth and final Grand Slam of the season, and its Senior Director of Player Relations & Business Development Eric Butorac was on hand to explain the major mixed doubles changes.
In response to Roddick, Butorac said: “I think it leads doubles to a place where it should be and can have more prominence with more star power.
“We see doubles matches at Laver Cup, at Davis Cup, even Indian Wells with the type of draw that they generate, it packs stadiums.
“It’s not only singles players, I think some of the best doubles matches might be two top singles players playing against the Bryan brothers, in our era.
“So I think some combination of top singles players and doubles players is just a wonderful thing to watch and I think fans love that.
“Where does it go? That remains to be seen. But what I can tell you is that a lot of care and thought went into this. Conversations with players.
“We understand commercial obligations and singles preparation but we also tried to take the utmost care for this is a Grand Slam event.
“This can’t be a one set shoot out, this has to be a 16 team draw, multiple rounds. So we had to balance those things as we put those things together.
“It may evolve over time, we are not saying we will get it right in year one, but we think we have something great here that fans are going to love.”
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