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Former Grand Slam champion calls for big change to the US Open mixed doubles event as she ‘hates’ one new rule

Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images
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Wimbledon is the next Grand Slam in the tennis calendar, but the US Open mixed doubles event has caused plenty of excitement among players and fans alike.

Fans can’t believe the US Open mixed doubles lineup, which includes a long list of top ATP and WTA stars joining forces.

Carlos Alcaraz will play with Emma Raducanu while Jannik Sinner will partner Emma Navarro in two such match-ups.

Mixed doubles at the US Open will include nine of the top 10 women and nine of the top 10 men, and will take place during Fan Week.

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will play host, with the winning team set to receive $1million in prize money.

A view of Arthur Ashe Stadium for Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz's final in 2024
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Rennae Stubbs calls for big change to US Open mixed doubles event

But the new event has not pleased everyone, with two-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion Jan Zielinski speaking out against the US Open mixed doubles format.

And Rennae Stubbs has now followed suit, writing on X when asked for her thoughts: “I hate the scoring system.

READ MORE: Jimmy Connors suggests why he thinks the US Open have changed the mixed doubles format this year as teams announced

Rennae Stubbs, coach of Serena Williams of the United States on Arthur Ashe Stadium in preparation for the US Open Tennis Championship 2022 at the USTA National Tennis Centre.
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

“I’m not against the singles players playing. But the scoring should never change to what it is. Because THAT is catering to them playing an exhibition! I also said top 10 doubles players should be allowed to play too OR keep the mixed the 2nd week.”

The four-time Grand Slam doubles and two-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion added: “I think they should have this as an exo and keep the mixed as a tournament.”

What are the rules for the US Open mixed doubles event?

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is aiming to drive greater awareness of the tournament with its new mixed doubles event.

And that has involved moving it from the third week of competition in New York to the very first, also known as US Open Fan Week.

READ MORE: Andy Roddick names the US Open mixed doubles team he would kick out if Coco Gauff decided she wanted to play this year

US Open Fan Week 2024
Photo by Wang Fan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

The matches at either Arthur Ashe Stadium or Louis Armstrong Stadium also comprise a long list of rules that fans and indeed players may need a bit of time to get their heads around.

The field features 16 teams, with eight teams earning direct entry based on combined singles ranking and the other eight receiving wildcards.

They will play best-of-three set matches with short sets to four games, with tiebreakers at four-all and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set.

There is no ad-scoring, with the final then a best-of-three set match to six games and tiebreakers at six-all, again with a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set.