Tennis
Rohan Bopanna expresses displeasure over US Open's revised mixed doubles program
The US Open has announced significant modifications to its mixed doubles program, including a shorter, revised configuration.
Rohan Bopanna (File Photo: AP)
The US Open has announced significant modifications to its mixed doubles program, including a shorter, revised configuration, and a $1 million prize money pool.
The redesigned competition, which is set for August 19-20, right before the singles main draw, hopes to recruit elite singles players and spark interest in the sometimes-overlooked doubles division.
Eight teams will receive direct entrance based on their combined singles rating rather than their doubles ranking, and there will only be 16 teams in the new format-half of the 32 from the previous year.
Wild-card entries will be used to fill the remaining eight spaces. The actions come after the 'Mixed Madness' experimental competition, which matched singles stars, proved to be a hit last year.
The format has also been revised with sets finishing when a pair reaches four games instead of six and tiebreaks to be played at 4-4 in the first two sets. A ten-point tiebreak will be played in the decider if required.
However, doubles players from all over the world have also voiced harsh criticism of the new format, with Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna being one such voice.
The former world number one in doubles expressed worries about how this shift would affect Indian tennis, which has always been a dominant force in doubles competitions.
Bopanna maintained that Indian players, who have achieved greater success in doubles competitions than in singles, are essentially marginalised by the emphasis on singles rankings.
"By restricting entry to singles-ranked players, the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles effectively sidelines India from contention, denying millions of Indian fans the chance to see their country represented on one of tennis' biggest stages,” said Bopanna, as per Sportskeeda.
He emphasized that this decision could diminish the aspirations of young Indian athletes who look up to doubles champions like Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza, and himself.
Bopanna also warned that excluding Indian players from the mixed doubles event could impact the tournament’s viewership in India and potentially harm the sport's growth in the country.
“For decades, Indian tennis has thrived on doubles, providing a legitimate path to global recognition despite limited infrastructure and funding for singles development. This rule change slams that door shut,” he added.
Critics of the US Open's change on the international scene and the future of doubles tennis claim that the new format would separate players and supporters from countries that rule doubles, therefore sparking a debate on these issues.
