Nine-time Grand Slam champion slams US Open for making ‘terribly shocking’ change ahead of 2025 tournament

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The US Open have made a number of recent announcements that have caused controversy amongst both players and fans.

Last year saw the tournament achieve record attendance figures, as Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner won the US Open for the first time in their respective careers.

In response to these numbers, the US Open have extended the 2025 event to 15 days, following the Australian Open and Roland Garros by doing so.

This decision from the US Open has split opinion, with some fans questioning the real motivation behind it.

However, the reaction to that announcement has been mild compared to the latest news coming from the US Open concerning doubles events.

Kristina Mladenovic slams the US Open for making change ahead of 2025 tournament

The US Open has made controversial decisions regarding doubles, with it being announced that the mixed doubles event will be taking place the week prior to the main tournament.

It has also reduced the number of teams in the mixed doubles field from 32 to just 16, with eight of them based on singles ranking and the other eight from wildcards.

This has received a very strong reaction, including from former doubles number one and last year’s US Open women’s doubles finalist Kristina Mladenovic.

When responding to this news on social media, the nine-time doubles Grand Slam champion suggested that the decision was money motivated and made the mixed doubles event feel like an exhibition.

Mladenovic also pointed out her concerns for players who wanted to play mixed doubles, but also would be involved in singles qualifying for the US Open in that same week like herself.

“Terribly shocking news! (thumbs down emojis)” the former top 10 singles player said on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“Doing that just to sell more money during first week of the event. Making it look like an exhibition for whoever wants to play! What about players playing singles Q (Qualifying) that want/could with their doubles ranking play mixed?”

Mladenovic has won a Grand Slam title at every major tournament except the US Open, where she has been a finalist on three occasions.

Former mixed doubles champions at the US Open

The mixed doubles event has taken place every year, other than in 2020, since 1887.

It was the tournament where Serena Williams won her second Grand Slam title in 1998, and has seen many other legendary champions crowned including Martina Navratilova, Bob Bryan and Martina Hingis, amongst many others.

Last year was the turn of the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who beat the American wildcard pairing of Taylor Townsend and Donald Young.

However, due to this new ruling it is unclear if these players would be able to compete in this event over players with higher singles rankings.