Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 25
US Open Mixed Doubles Loses Nos. 1 and 3 Seeds as 4 Semifinal Teams Emerge
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 25

US Open Mixed Doubles Loses Nos. 1 and 3 Seeds as 4 Semifinal Teams Emerge

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 25

Summary

  • Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic fell in the first round, and Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were knocked out 5-4, 4-1 in the quarterfinals as the semifinal field was finalized Tuesday.
  • The shake-up reflected the event’s shortened format—sets to four games, no-ad scoring and deciding tiebreaks—which helped underdogs flip matches after brief momentum swings.
  • Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli advanced by beating Williams and Alcaraz, while Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev outlasted Diana Shnaider and Casper Ruud in a match tiebreak.
  • Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik moved past Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul, and Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils edged Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten to complete Wednesday’s semifinals.

Insights

How did doubles specialists use a ruthless new scoring system to dethrone tennis titans like Djokovic and Serena?
Did the US Open's million-dollar gamble on a fast-paced format backfire by eliminating its biggest tennis legends too early?