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Doubles world No. 9 Ellen Perez didn't hold back when addressing the revisited US Open mixed doubles, saying it was a direct message to doubles players that the tournament regards them as "trash."
This year, the mixed dubs event at Flushing Meadows goes from 32 to 16 teams - eight make the tournament directly while the rest enter via a wildcard - and the event takes place during the qualifying week, August 19-20.
Also, the format will see some drastic changes as sets will be played to four games - no AD scoring on deuce - and matches that go three sets will be resolved via a 10-point tie-breaker.
Only the final will be played in a traditional three-set format.
By completely revamping the format, the US Open organizers are evidently hoping to lure some major singles names to compete in their mixedevent.
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And for dubs specialists like Perez - who make a living out of competing in the competition - it's pretty much the worst-case scenario.
"Tell us that you think doubles players are trash, that tradition is overrated and job opportunity is a thing of the past without actually saying it," the Australian, who is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist in women's doubles and a six-time quarterfinalist in mixed, wrote on X.
Defending US Open mixed dubs champions also called out
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who won the 2024 mixedevent at Flushing Meadows, also issued a very strong statement.
In the last few weeks we received the news that the US Open mixedtournament will be completely turned upside down, canceled and replaced with a pseudo-exhibition focused only on entertainment and show," they said in a message posted on Instagram.
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A decision made without consulting anyone, which we can do nothing but accept it.
"We see it as a profound injustice, that disrespects an entire category of players. [Putting] money above tennis is never a good idea."
The US Open has already received some pretty strong and backlash and it will very likely increase when the time comes for the tournament to start.
