Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori Send Strong Message After Beating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in Revamped US Open Mixed Doubles

Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori have made a statement by defending their US Open mixed doubles title by beating third seeds Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.

Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori Send Strong Message After Beating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in Revamped US Open Mixed Doubles

Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud, Sara Errani, Andrea Vavassori (Image via X/Jimmy48 Photography)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori have accomplished the mission! They were the only ‘true’ mixed doubles pair in the revamped US Open mixed doubles event that was held for two days during the qualifying week.

In the final, they beat third seeds Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud with a 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 scoreline. Before reaching the final, the Italian pair knocked out the American pair of Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison in straight sets. In the on-court interview, then, Vavassori declared, “We have been on a mission.”

Their mission was to win the tournament for all the doubles players who couldn’t participate because of the new format. After defending the title, Errani dedicated the trophy to the doubles players. She said during the trophy presentation:

I think this one is for all the doubles players that couldn’t play this tournament. I think this one is also for them.

Last year at Flushing Meadows, Errani and Vavassori beat America’s Taylor Townsend and Donald Young to win the US Open mixed doubles for the first time. This year’s US Open mixed doubles is also their second win in Grand Slam events, as they also lifted the French Open by defeating the team of Townsend and Evan King.

We showed today that doubles is a great product. I think in the future we need more marketing and visibility. I think this product is something that can also work in the future. It was amazing to play on this court with so many people. I have to say thanks from the bottom of my heart for the atmosphere.

Andrea Vavassori said during the trophy presentation

Swiatek participated in a Grand Slam mixed doubles for the second time after the 2020 Australian Open. Ruud played Grand Slam mixed doubles for the first time in his career.

Iga Swiatek on the new US Open format

In less than 24 hours before playing her first mixed doubles match in New York, Iga Swiatek defeated Jasmine Paolini in the Cincinnati Masters final. Because of the schedule, the Pole was expected to skip the mixed doubles.

Iga Swiatek (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Iga Swiatek (via X/The Tennis Letter)

But she played and reached the final with Casper Ruud. At the press conference after the defeat, Swiatek was asked to give her opinion on the revamped mixed doubles being compacted in two days, whether she wanted some changes in the format.

No, I think the format is the only way actually the singles players could play without it influencing the singles tournament, which obviously we want to avoid. It makes sense. I think maybe the Cincinnati final could have been earlier, if that’s possible or something, because that was just the toughest part for me. But obviously for me only. Like Carlos [Alcaraz] finished a bit earlier. Jasmine pulled out.

Paolini had paired up with compatriot Lorenzo Musetti, but she withdrew to prioritize rest. Musetti re-paired with Caty McNally, and they lost to Swiatek and Ruud in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz was able to finish his Cincinnati Masters final early because it was held at 3 p.m. ET, and he was handed the walkover by Jannik Sinner as the World No.1 was ill and retired mid-match after trailing 0-5 in the first set.

These players will next be focusing on the US Open singles, the main draw of which starts on August 24th. Swiatek was the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2022 (beat Ons Jabeur). Ruud was the finalist in 2023 (lost to Novak Djokovic). But last year, the Norwegian ace fell in four sets in the fourth round against eventual runner-up Taylor Fritz, while Swiatek suffered a straight-set defeat to eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals.

Also read: Martina Navratilova Backs Iga Swiatek to Win the 2025 US Open Following Wimbledon Triumph