"Wimbledon keeps mixed doubles format unchanged despite US Open's revamp success"

Wimbledon Keeps Mixed Doubles Format Despite US Open Changes

The All England Club has no plans to alter the structure of the Wimbledon mixed doubles competition in future tournaments, despite the positive reception of the revised format at the US Open.

This year, the US Open introduced changes to its mixed doubles event to encourage participation from top singles players. The move proved popular, featuring notable pairings like Emma Raducanu with Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek alongside Casper Ruud. The event took place before the singles matches in front of packed crowds at Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, attracting 78,000 spectators. While last year’s doubles winners, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, claimed victory again, several players voiced interest in seeing other major tournaments adopt a similar approach.

“It would be great if all the slams did this,” said Jack Draper, who reached the semi-finals with Jessica Pegula. Raducanu also praised the format, saying, “It was a huge success—fans loved it, and it brought in a lot of attention. Even if it’s not the exact same setup, it would be fun if other tournaments tried something similar.”

However, Wimbledon has no intention of making adjustments. The current format is seen as an essential part of the tournament, where doubles play traditionally receives more recognition, drawing strong attendance.

Still, the US Open’s success highlights how Wimbledon lags behind other Grand Slam events in modernizing its schedule. The Australian Open, French Open, and US Open now span three weeks, incorporating additional matches during qualifying. Wimbledon’s grass courts and limited space restrict its ability to follow suit, with qualifying rounds held over three miles away in Roehampton.

Organizers hope the Wimbledon Park Project will address these challenges. The plan involves expanding into the nearby golf course, potentially allowing on-site qualifying and the introduction of a pre-tournament week.