The latest changes to the US Open mixed doubles format are stirring the pot! On February 11, the USTA announced that the event will now take place during Fan Week, featuring just 16 teams—8 based on combined singles rankings, and the rest, wild cards. The matches will use a “Fast Four” scoring system, where players need only 4 games to win a set, with a tiebreaker at 4-4. While Taylor Fritz is all in, Rennae Stubbs can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu.

In a recent chat with the press ahead of the 2025 Delray Beach Open, he acknowledged that amid the grumbling players now, the old setup just wasn’t exciting enough. “Mixed doubles, as it was, isn’t adding that much to the Slams,” he said, pointing out fans excitement for top singles stars teaming up.

Rennae Stubbs was not buying this and took to her podcast on Thursday to speak up. She said, “It’s not during the tournament and it feels like a complete sideshow. It now feels like an exhibition of a mixed doubles event. That’s what it feels like.”

Notably, the prize money is soaring from $200,000 from last year’s US Open mixed doubles event to a staggering $1 million for the winners. Unlike previous formats, it’s unknown if there will be prize money as the rounds proceed, and Stubbs believes it takes away the very essence of a major title like the US Open. She noted, “That to me is not okay when it comes to handing out a grand slam title at the end of the day.”

That’s not all, as the change was announced, more insiders chimed in with their inputs. While at the moment, Fritz stands alone in his opinion for the change, even fans have lamented their frustration towards his take on the matter. On the other hand, former pros aren’t too happy either!

The new US Open mixed doubles format has a few critics!

US Tennis Association executive director Lew Sherr expressed his excitement about these changes, stating, “I could not be more excited to introduce this groundbreaking innovation to the 2025 US Open Championships.” He emphasized that this new format aims to attract top singles players and provide fans with thrilling matches featuring their favorite stars. However, not everyone is on board with this shake-up.

Critics like Paul McNamee, a former World No.1 and 24-time Grand Slam champion in doubles, lamented on X that “Sets to four games in a Grand Slam? 16 teams with eight based on singles rankings and eight wildcards. I’m sorry, but the US Open now will not produce a bona fide mixed doubles winner.” Additionally, last year’s mixed doubles champions, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, also voiced their discontent, calling the decision a “profound injustice” that prioritizes profit over tradition. They stated, “Making decisions just following the logic of profit is profoundly wrong in some situations.”

As the tennis community buzzes with opinions about these changes, it’s clear that the US Open is aiming for a fresh approach while facing pushback from those who cherish the event’s history and integrity. With the main singles draw starting on August 24. Last year, Taylor Fritz skipped the mixed doubles event at the US Open to focus on his singles campaign. He made a remarkable run to the finals for the first time, ultimately facing World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. But with the revamped format set to take place during the qualifying rounds, he noted that the event is scheduled at a time that allows him to participate. So we might see him in mixed doubles action this time around!

For now, he’s gearing up to defend his title at the Delray Beach Open—his first-round match will be against Yunchaokete Bu on Friday, February 14!