The US Open is set to make several changes ahead of tennis’ trip to New York in 2025.
Flushing Meadows offers up a thrilling conclusion to the Grand Slam campaign on a yearly basis.
The stars of the ATP and WTA Tours make the trip to the ‘Big Apple’ to compete for Major success every fall.
In 2024, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka won the US Open, lifting their second and third Grand Slam titles, respectively.
In 2025, the US Open mixed doubles tournament will receive an overhaul, as the draw will be halved, and the scoring system will be simplified.
- 16 teams instead of 32
- First to four-game sets in the first three rounds
- Tournament will be played over two days (August 19-20)
The decision has unsurprisingly sparked controversy, although it may not be the only change the US Open will make in 2025.
US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster is ‘seriously considering’ a major change to doubles
Appearing on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster explained a change they are prepared to make ahead of this year’s event.
“We are seriously considering delaying the start [of men’s and women’s doubles] from Wednesday to Friday but we haven’t made a final decision,” she said.
“The focus has been on the mixed and I know Eric [Butorac] and I want to chat more with the tours and athletes about whether or not we should do that.
“We talked about an on-site entry [for singles players who go out].
“That seemed to be well received, so one step at a time.”
Doubles specialists reigned supreme in New York last year, as the seventh seed in both the men’s and women’s event lifted the trophy.
- [7] Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson beat Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz
- [7] Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko beat Kristina Mladenovic and Zhang Shuai
The Ukrainian and Latvian duo of Kichenok and Ostapenko dominated at last year’s US Open, winning the title without dropping a single set.
Who could’ve played doubles if this change was in place for the 2024 US Open?
Allaster noted that she was considering on-site entry to the US Open doubles tournament for players who suffer early exits in New York.
Moving the start date to Friday could potentially have seen several of the WTA and ATP Tour’s top stars eligible for doubles action last time around.
| Player | ATP/WTA | Seed | Eliminated on |
| Maria Sakkari | WTA | 9 | Monday |
| Stefanos Tsitsipas | ATP | 11 | Tuesday |
| Danielle Collins | WTA | 11 | Tuesday |
| Barbora Krejcikova | WTA | 8 | Wednesday |
| Hubert Hurkacz | ATP | 7 | Thursday |
| Carlos Alcaraz | ATP | 3 | Friday |
The likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Danielle Collins, and Carlos Alcaraz could potentially have been eligible to sign up for doubles, had the rule been in effect for the 2024 tournament.
Alcaraz was stunned by Botic van de Zandschulp in the third round of the US Open last year, as he suffered his earliest exit at a Grand Slam tournament since his debut season.
The Spaniard may not have chosen to participate in doubles, but fans would no doubt have loved to see Alcaraz continue to entertain in New York.
When will the 2025 US Open tournament begin?
When tennis heads to the United States for the year’s final Major tournament in 2025, it will do so with real anticipation, ahead of several big changes.
Not only have the doubles events experienced a revamp, but the US Open tournament is set to be extended and will start on Sunday in 2025, rather than Monday, as it had done in previous years.
The 2025 US Open tournament in New York will begin on Sunday, August 24.
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