The US Open is set for a big change in 2025, with the mixed doubles event taking place in opening week.
US Open mixed doubles will take place before the singles draw, in a bid to allow top singles players to take part.
It will also involve 16 pairs instead of 32, with a $1million prize included in a further attempt to attract big-name players.
Aryna Sabalenka wants to play US Open mixed doubles, but the decision hasn’t been fully welcomed by many other players.
Reigning champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori feel disrespected by the US Open change, which they claim is putting profit before anything else.
Alex de Minaur excited for US Open mixed doubles opportunity
The French Open and Wimbledon will attract the biggest names in tennis before then, but much of the focus at this moment in time is already looking ahead to New York.
Asked in his Dubai Tennis Championships opening press conference for his thoughts on the mixed doubles decision, Alex de Minaur said: “Look, ultimately you’re going to have very different answers based on who you ask, right?
“If I’m looking purely at myself and the situation I’m in, it does present an opportunity for me to play mixed doubles, which in previous years I probably wouldn’t have done just because as the format is right now for a singles player, you’re not really going to play mixed doubles because your priority is obviously the singles.
“It’s halfway through the tournament, so it makes it way too difficult, especially for the men who are playing best-of-five sets. They want to make sure they get their recovery in, all that stuff.
“The way it’s proposed now, it definitely entices a lot more of the singles players to play, and it’s an opportunity.
“Me personally, I really enjoy playing mixed doubles, so I think it’s going to be fun to hopefully play some mixed with Katie [Boulter], which will be exciting.”
Alex de Minaur predicts US Open to make permanent mixed doubles decision after 2025
Perhaps unsurprisingly De Minaur is in favour of the change, with the event giving him the opportunity to pair up with his fiance Boulter.
De Minaur, who is eighth in the ATP rankings, and British number one Boulter have previously played mixed doubles together, notably at Wimbledon in 2023.
READ MORE: Thanasi Kokkinakis reacts after Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter announce their engagement
At the same time, however, the Australian is well aware of just how damaging the decision could prove to be for the regular mixed doubles players.
“It obviously isn’t the best situation for the doubles players, taking away their chance and opportunity to play these events,” he continued.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see how that first week turns out, then go from there, right? We’ll see how the final product looks, if it works, if it doesn’t. I’m sure they’ll make a decision after that.”
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