The tennis world has been abuzz with talk of innovation and tradition, and nowhere is that clash more apparent than in the ongoing debate over Grand Slam mixed doubles formats. As the dust settles on the US Open’s bold new approach, the All England Club has made its stance clear: Wimbledon is not ready to follow suit, at least not yet. The decision, announced on September 1, 2025, comes in the wake of a wildly popular and controversial mixed doubles event at Flushing Meadows that has left fans, players, and pundits asking: is it time for a change at the world’s most storied tennis tournament?
The US Open’s mixed doubles experiment was, by all accounts, a spectacle. For the first time, the tournament scheduled its mixed doubles competition during the qualifying week, just before the main singles events. Sixteen teams—many featuring some of tennis’s biggest names—battled it out in a Fast4 scoring format over two days. The stakes? An eye-popping $1 million in prize money for the winners. As a result, the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium were packed, with a combined 78,000 fans turning out to watch. The event drew global attention, with many in the tennis community lauding its ability to attract both new fans and top-tier talent.
Yet, not everyone was convinced. Traditionalists balked at the abbreviated format and the sidelining of doubles specialists in favor of singles stars. Still, the tournament’s only traditional mixed doubles pair—Italy’s Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori—defied the odds and clinched the title, defending their crown from the previous year. The success of Errani and Vavassori offered a nod to the roots of mixed doubles, even as the format itself represented a radical departure from convention.
British stars Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper were among those swept up in the excitement. Raducanu, who paired with Carlos Alcaraz in a much-hyped partnership, saw her run end in the first round at the hands of Draper and Jessica Pegula. Despite the early exit, Raducanu was effusive in her praise for the US Open’s initiative. “I think it would be so fun if all the Slams got involved and did something similar, even if it was not the exact same format. I think it was a huge success. I think so many fans got involved, so many people watching and tuned in. It got a lot of attention. I think it was a great idea. And, yeah, I had a lot of fun on the court playing with Carlos,” she told reporters after the match.
Draper, who advanced to the semifinals with Pegula, echoed Raducanu’s sentiments. “I think it would be cool if all the Slams did this,” he said. Their enthusiasm was matched by the crowds, who flocked to see the star-studded matchups. Even tennis legend Billie Jean King weighed in, applauding the event for bringing men and women players together in a spirit of mutual respect. “I got to be here and watch it live, and it was fantastic,” King said. “This is what happens, the women realize the men can make mistakes too, but the men go, ‘God, you’re a lot better than I thought you guys were’. What it does is it brings people more together and they start to respect each other more and then obviously the two that won, won the mixed doubles last year, so they’re playing for all the other doubles players. There was a lot of emotion going on there and pride. I love it.”
Despite the groundswell of support for change, Wimbledon’s organizers remain unmoved. The All England Club has stated unequivocally that it has no plans to adopt the US Open’s radical mixed doubles format, at least for now. The reasons are both practical and philosophical. Unlike the US Open, Wimbledon does not open its doors to the public during the week leading up to the tournament; its qualifying rounds are held off-site at Roehampton, several miles from the main venue. The club’s fragile grass courts and limited space have long been constraints, making any expansion or scheduling shift a logistical challenge.
Moreover, doubles matches—mixed or otherwise—have always been a hit at Wimbledon. The Championships enjoy robust attendance for doubles events, with many recreational players in Britain favoring the format. That local enthusiasm means the empty seats sometimes seen at other Grand Slams are rarely a problem at SW19. According to British doubles champion Henry Patten, the US Open’s approach, while exciting, raises questions about the future of the discipline. “I’m sure Emma is probably up for it. I know a lot of the mixed doubles players, along with the potential for the pay cheque, were paid appearance fees to play it. So, if you want to have to pay players to play grand slams, then why not? But, if you want to keep it kind of traditional and how it has been, which I think is what Wimbledon kind of stands for and is famous for, then probably not. It played out exactly how we expected. It was a huge success. It was nice to see a doubles pair win it. Hopefully next year they’ll let a few more of us in,” Patten reflected.
Wimbledon’s reluctance to change is also shaped by its ongoing expansion plans. The much-anticipated Wimbledon Park Project aims to transform a neighboring golf course into additional tournament grounds, potentially allowing for qualifying matches and more events to be held on-site. However, the project is currently mired in legal disputes and planning delays, with a court process underway to determine public access to the land. Until those hurdles are cleared, Wimbledon’s options for reimagining its schedule remain limited.
Elsewhere in the Grand Slam universe, the appetite for change appears similarly muted. Insiders at the French Open have expressed little interest in emulating the US Open, while the Australian Open—often seen as the most innovative of the majors—has indicated it will stick with its current mixed doubles format for now. The US Open, Australian Open, and French Open have all expanded to three-week affairs, packing their qualifying weeks with fan-friendly activities and side events, while Wimbledon’s more compact schedule and off-site qualifying keep it rooted in tradition.
The debate over mixed doubles formats is far from settled. For now, Wimbledon will continue to do things its way, honoring a legacy that stretches back more than a century. But with players, fans, and legends of the game calling for fresh ideas and new excitement, the pressure for change is unlikely to fade. As tennis evolves, the world will be watching to see whether the All England Club eventually bends—or holds firm to its storied traditions.
For now, the Championships remain a bastion of tradition amid a sport that’s always looking for its next big moment. The mixed doubles debate, much like the game itself, is sure to serve up more surprises in the years ahead.
