The Italians prevailed 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 in front of a lively Arthur Ashe crowd, sealing victory with the teamwork and tactical precision that has defined their partnership. Their win not only earned them a second consecutive Grand Slam title but also carried added symbolism, coming in a tournament overshadowed by controversy over the event’s “reimagined” format.
This year, the US Open revamped the mixed doubles competition, expanding prize money to $1 million—five times last year’s purse—in a bid to attract singles stars such as Swiatek, Ruud, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. The move, however, left many specialist doubles players sidelined. Errani and Vavassori were the only established doubles pairing in the 16-team field, their participation secured only after being granted a late wildcard.
“This is for all the doubles players who couldn’t play this tournament,” Errani said after the match. Vavassori added: “We have been on a mission.” The pair’s celebrations underlined that point, with Vavassori hoisting Errani high in the air after match point.
The road to the title was anything but straightforward. After ousting American pair Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison in the semi-finals, they faced Swiatek and Ruud, who had survived a nail-biting semi against Britain’s Jack Draper and home favourite Jessica Pegula. In the final, the Italians held firm against their higher-ranked opponents, winning the decisive match tie-break 10-6.
Swiatek, gracious in defeat, acknowledged the tactical superiority of her opponents. “I guess you proved doubles players are smarter tactically than singles players,” she said with a smile.
The backdrop to the triumph remained the ongoing debate about the tournament’s changes. Many doubles specialists argued the restructuring undermined their discipline, reducing opportunities for those who compete almost exclusively in pairs. Errani and Vavassori had earlier condemned the move as “profoundly wrong” in a joint statement, framing their participation as an act of resistance as much as competition.
“We showed that doubles is a great product and in the future we need more marketing and visibility,” Vavassori told reporters.
For now, the Italians stand as champions once again—both on the scoreboard and, in the eyes of many, as the voice of doubles players fighting for their place in the sport.
If the opening day of the US Open’s new-look mixed doubles felt like a trial run, finals night carried the weight and spectacle of a true showpiece. From the outset, the event was dressed in grandeur: a patriotic rendition of the US national anthem, US Marines unfurling a massive Stars and Stripes, and a crowd buzzing with anticipation.
Yet beneath the pomp lay a tournament still under scrutiny. For some, the overhaul of mixed doubles has stripped the event of its standing as a major title, with critics suggesting an asterisk now hangs over the champions. The stadium announcer’s careful reminder of what the title would mean for each player’s career résumé felt like a bid to reinforce its legitimacy.
On court, however, there was no doubting the seriousness. The opening semi-final was played at ferocious pace, reflecting the intensity of competitors like Casper Ruud and Jessica Pegula. At one point, Ruud even called for a VAR-style review after a contentious Pegula shot—an episode that underlined how fiercely every point was contested. The umpire’s confirmation that Pegula had not reached over the net tipped momentum back to Pegula and Jack Draper, who surged to the first set.
But sport’s margins can be brutal. From 8-4 up in the decisive match tie-break, Pegula and Draper squandered their advantage, their missed opportunity for the title summed up by Pegula burying her head in her hands.
Errani and Vavassori, the eventual champions, left no doubt about their own passion. After their semi-final win, they struck underarm “Hulk Hogan” bicep flexes—a defiant gesture that captured both their joy and their point to tournament organisers about the value of doubles specialists.
While intensity defined the tennis, the entertainment package around it added a distinctive New York flavour. DJs perched courtside spun a city-inspired playlist featuring Jay-Z, Cyndi Lauper, and even the Friends theme tune. The Celeb Cam and Dance Cam brought crowd interaction, while fashion icon Anna Wintour—recently retired from her role as Vogue editor-in-chief—added glamour in the stands.
By the time the final concluded, thousands had stayed late into the night, rewarded with a pulsating climax that left organisers confident the revamped format is here to stay.
For all the debate over its legitimacy, the tournament delivered a mix of drama, spectacle, and spectacle befitting its ambition: to reimagine what mixed doubles could look like on the Grand Slam stage.