This year’s US Open mixed doubles event looks very different from anything we’ve seen before.
In a controversial change, the US Open switched up the format of the mixed doubles event for the 2025 tournament.
The field was reduced from 32 teams to 16, and the event will be played over two days during the US Open fan week.
Looking to attract more viewers to doubles, tournament organizers invited several top singles stars to compete, with the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, and Iga Swiatek all taking part.
However, the event has received plenty of criticism, as most traditional doubles and mixed doubles players were unable to compete.
One such player has now named the team she wants to win the tournament.
Ellen Perez backs Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori to win the US Open
Sharing her thoughts on X, WTA doubles star Ellen Perez backed the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori to win the title.
“I’ve never felt more Italian than I do today,” she said.
“Forza.”
Errani and Vavassori are the only ‘traditional’ doubles team competing in the event, and are the defending US Open mixed doubles champions.
After their first-round win in 2025, Vavassori said he and Errani were playing for the other doubles stars that weren’t invited.
It certainly looks like Vavassori and Errani have the backing of their fellow doubles stars, as 2018 Wimbledon mixed doubles champion Nicole Melichar-Martinez agreed with Perez’s message, replying to her on X.
“Amen,” she said.
Having already won a mixed doubles Grand Slam together in 2025, picking up the trophy at Roland Garros, Vavassori and Errani are out to prove a point in New York.
If they were to win the title, then perhaps tournament organizers would consider inviting a few more full-time doubles players to compete next year.
They’ve made a strong start to their campaign, but still have work to do if they want to defend their title.
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori’s 2025 US Open mixed doubles campaign
Errani and Vavassori kicked off their title defence against the 2025 ‘Tie Break Tens’ winners, Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz.
Producing a fairly dominant performance against one of the pre-tournament favorites, Errani and Vavassori secured their place in the quarterfinals with a 4-2, 4-2 win.
There, they took on the hard-hitting duo, Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev, who had beaten Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka in their opener.
Easing into a one-set lead, the Italians won the first 4-1, but were met with some resistance in the second.
Level at 4-4, Errani and Vavassori contested their first tiebreaker of the tournament, winning [7-4] to clinch the win.
The two-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champions will now prepare for the semifinals on Wednesday, August 20, where they will take on America’s Christian Harrison and Danielle Collins.
Entering the event last-minute as replacements for Jannik Sinner and Katerina Siniakova, Harrison and Collins won their first two matches without dropping a set.
Harrison and Collins could cause Errani and Vavassori some problems, although the Italian pair will likely set foot on Arthur Ashe Stadium as the favorites.
Should they advance, they will meet either Jack Draper/Jessica Pegula or Casper Ruud/Iga Swiatek in the final.
The two teams, made up of top singles stars, were similarly ruthless in their opening matches, dropping just six games each en route to the final four.
Pegula and Draper are the number-one seeds for the event, thanks to their excellent combined singles ranking (9), the best of any team in the competition.
Errani and Vavassori would, of course, have the best combined doubles ranking (17) if organizers used that as a qualification requirement.
Only time will tell if the Italians can continue to fly the flag for doubles players and pick up the title in New York.
The US Open mixed doubles semifinals and final will be played on Wednesday, August 20, on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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