The US Tennis Association (Usta) has announced far-reaching changes for the US Open mixed tournament.
According to this, the competition will be played for the first time this year on only two days – and that in the week before the start of the tournament.
According to the announcement of the Usta, August 19 and 20 are intended for the mixed games, which thus fall into the so-called “Fan Week”. So far, this was only reserved for the individual qualification and various show events, while the mixed had taken place in parallel to the main tournament. Due to the laying, the mixed double teams in the large arenas, Arthur Ashe Stadium and the Louis Armstrong Stadium can also compete.
“We will bring the mixed double to the main stage and more fans worldwide give their stars in the fight for this Grand Slam title,” explains Usta-CEO LEW Sherr.
For this purpose, higher prize money was introduced for the competition. The exact breakdown has not yet been determined, but it is certain that the winning duo will be paid with one million dollars. For comparison: So far, only $ 200,000 were intended as a victory premium.
US Open: Field of participants is reduced
The field of participants is also reduced from 32 to 16 teams. The duration of the matches is also changed, one sentence is only played up to four – with a 4: 4 there is a tie -break. The exception is the final where conventional sentences are played.
The extension of the tournament duration should also be based on financial motives. So far, admission to the “Fan Week” was fundamentally free of charge, but paid tickets are now being sold for the mixed matches.