Doubles veterans trump singles stars in early mixed matches
Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 19, 2025 Italy's Sara Errani and Italy's Andrea Vavassori react during their round of 16 mixed doubles match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. and Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
NEW YORK - Veteran doubles experience overcame singles stardom in the early action at the U.S. Open's reimagined mixed doubles competition on Tuesday, as the event kicked off with a new format and a crop of new ticketholders.
Defending champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani downed 2022 Wimbledon singles winner Elena Rybakina and 2024 U.S. Open singles finalist Taylor Fritz 4-2 4-2. The Italians had earned wild card entries.
Twice Grand Slam doubles finalist Caty McNally and partner Lorenzo Musetti beat two-times U.S. Open singles champion Naomi Osaka and 2016 men's semi-finalist Gael Monfils 5-3 4-2.
The year's final major took a new approach to the event beloved by fans but often lost in a schedule that is dominated by singles action, moving the competition to five days before the main draw.
This year's format saw eight entries based on the combined singles rankings of players and eight wild cards, a move that left some doubles competitors fuming but succeeded in bringing a sellout crowd to Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"The tactics in doubles are very important. They are amazing players, we all know that, but in doubles I think also the combination of the two players, we know each other so well, we are playing a lot of tournaments together," said Vavassori.
"We're also playing for all the doubles players that could not be here, so we tried to do our best."
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore NDP 2026 to be held at National Stadium to accommodate more Singaporeans
Singapore Girl, 14, among 3 injured after minibus falls into Bukit Panjang canal
Singapore Man to be charged after allegedly slashing another man with Swiss knife at City Plaza
Singapore Hyflux founder Olivia Lum and ex-CFO gave input to 'play down' energy component of Tuaspring project
Singapore FairPrice apologises after worm found in salmon bought from Bedok North outlet
Singapore What led to Changi Airport runway incident involving 2 China Eastern Airlines planes in Aug 2024
Singapore Married man who offered cash to 12-year-old girl for sexual acts gets 19 months' jail
'HOLLYWOOD OF MIXED DOUBLES'
A logjam of cars waited long into the first round to enter the Flushing grounds as spectators abandoned their taxis, walking up the Grand Central Parkway to get inside the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
It was the earliest sign of business not-as-usual for the U.S. Open's "fan week" as ticketholders shelled out to catch the early action just a day after the Cincinnati Open concluded.
"We're really excited. We heard it was like the Hollywood of mixed doubles," said Boston native Krystyna Zaluski, who brought her 13-year-old son to the tournament for the first time. "This event made it so simple for us to come out here."
That star power was dented slightly by the last-minute withdrawal of Italian Jannik Sinner, a day after illness forced the world number one to retire five games into his Cincinnati Open final.
Americans Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison replaced Sinner and partner Katerina Siniakova in the draw. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Donald welcomes happy headache as Ryder Cup crunch time looms
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox May 16, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Luke Donald hits his second shot on the second hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images/File Photo LONDON - European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald is happy to have a good headache as decision-day looms to finalise his team ahead of the clash with the United States in New York next month. One of the six automatic places is still up for grabs ahead of this weekend's British Masters at The Belfry but Ireland's Shane Lowry, who occupies sixth place in the rankings, is not playing, opening the door for Rasmus Hojgaard. Finishing in a two-way tie for 29th, or better, will mean Denmark's Hojgaard will join already-qualified Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton in Donald's team. Beyond the automatic places, Donald will have six captain's picks, and he will be keeping a keen eye on several candidates at the Belfry, the PGA Tour Championship, which is also this week, and at next week's European Masters in Switzerland. "Every Ryder Cup, there is always a push by some people who have a good opportunity to claim a place," Donald, whose team beat the United States in Rome two years ago, said. "It is a little bit of a headache for me, but a good headache. The more options we have for those picks the better." Donald announces his six picks on September 1 and faces a tough dilemma with the likes of Spain's Jon Rahm, England's Matt Fitzpatrick, Sweden's Ludvig Aberg and Austria's Sepp Straka, all requiring the nod from the captain. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 18 persons nabbed and 82 vapes seized in HSA ops in Raffles Place and Haji Lane Singapore 3 Sengkang Green Primary pupils suspended for bullying classmate, with 1 of them caned: MOE Singapore Woman trapped between train doors: Judge rules SBS Transit '100% responsible' Singapore Religion growing in importance for Singaporeans: IPS study Life Record number of arts patrons in 2024, but overall donation dips to $45.74m Life 'Loss that's irreplaceable': Local film-makers mourn closure of Singapore indie cinema The Projector Singapore Nearly 2 years' jail, caning for man caught with at least 100 sexually explicit videos of children Singapore Grab users in Singapore shocked by fares of over $1,000 due to display glitch English trio Aaron Rai, Marco Penge and Harry Hall are also on Donald's radar. Penge, who won the Danish Open last week, and Rai will both be in action at the Belfry while Hall will seek to impress from afar at the Tour Championship. While Donald says the team bond that was evident at the Marco Simone Club two years ago was vital, he is not discounting shaking it up with some rookies. "Having some continuity is good but also having fresh blood, having rookies, that could be good, too. It's not cut and dry," Donald said. "But certainly from a continuity standpoint, they understand how I work. I understand them quite well. "Those are all positives for sure." The Ryder Cup takes place at Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, starting on September 26 with the United States aiming to reclaim the trophy after a 16 1/2 - 11 1/2 loss in Italy. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Tiger Woods to head PGA Tour committee to overhaul golf
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Tiger Woods will act as chairman for a nine-member Future Competition Committee aimed at designing the 'optimal competitive model' for golf. MIAMI - Tiger Woods will head a new player-led committee aimed at overseeing a radical shake-up of professional golf in North America, PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp announced on Aug 20. Speaking on the eve of the season-ending Tour Championship, Rolapp said Woods would act as chairman for a nine-member Future Competition Committee aimed at designing the 'optimal competitive model' for golf. Rolapp, who only recently took up his post with the PGA Tour after two decades with the National Football League, said the committee had been charged with leading 'significant change' to the sport's existing model. 'The purpose of this committee is pretty simple,' Rolapp told a press conference. 'We're going to design the best professional golf competitive model in the world for the benefit of PGA Tour fans, players and their partners,' he added. 'The goal is not incremental change. The goal is significant change.' Woods will be one of six players serving on the committee alongside Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Camilo Villegas, Maverick McNealy and Keith Mitchell. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 18 persons nabbed and 82 vapes seized in HSA ops in Raffles Place and Haji Lane Singapore 3 Sengkang Green Primary pupils suspended for bullying classmate, with 1 of them caned: MOE Singapore Woman trapped between train doors: Judge rules SBS Transit '100% responsible' Singapore Religion growing in importance for Singaporeans: IPS study Life Record number of arts patrons in 2024, but overall donation dips to $45.74m Life 'Loss that's irreplaceable': Local film-makers mourn closure of Singapore indie cinema The Projector Singapore Nearly 2 years' jail, caning for man caught with at least 100 sexually explicit videos of children Singapore Grab users in Singapore shocked by fares of over $1,000 due to display glitch Three business advisers on the panel include John Henry, the billionaire owner of Fenway Sports Group which owns the Boston Red Sox and English Premier League champions Liverpool. Rolapp said the committee would be driven by guiding principles that promoted competitive parity, creating more tournaments where the top players face off against each other and designing a season that was simple to follow. 'I think the focus will be to create events that really matter, and how we do that, what that number is, we'll determine,' Rolapp said. 'But that's certainly the goal.' 'How do you actually drive a competition schedule where every event matters, that is connected to a postseason, but do it in a way where the best golfers can get together and actually perform well?' Rolapp said. 'I think that's all an open question – and those are the things we're going to look at with an open mind.' 'Nothing off table' In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Aug 20, Woods said the committee would examine all options. Possible changes could include fewer events, smaller fields and higher stakes, the Journal reported. 'Nothing's off the table,' Woods told the newspaper. 'We're going to run through a lot of different scenarios and a lot of different things that could happen.' Woods, 49, who has not competed this year, as he recovers from a torn Achilles, hinted that the PGA Tour was poised for momentous changes to its format. 'It's one of the most exciting times in our sport to be able to create something that is truly transformative,' Woods said. 'Sometimes you never get an opportunity like that in your entire career. But we have that moment right now.' Rolapp did not give a timeline of when a new-look Tour – which has already released its 2026 season schedule – would be rolled out. 'We will take as much time to get it right,' Rolapp said. 'I would like to put in the right competitive model as soon as we can. 'But we want to do it right, so however long it takes, we'll do, while moving aggressively.' Rolapp, meanwhile, did not comment on how the PGA Tour's planned shake-up would dovetail with the ongoing talks aimed at unifying the sport following the rise of the Saudi Arabia-financed LIV Golf circuit. 'I think my primary focus is going to be on strengthening the Tour, and blank sheet of paper, means blank sheet of paper. Whatever does that, I'll pursue aggressively,' Rolapp said when asked whether finding common ground with LIV Golf was a priority. AFP
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Women's Rugby World Cup to offer players ‘mental health support'
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox TWICKENHAM – Women's Rugby World Cup chiefs have promised to offer players 'mental health support' after saying that female athletes are '30 per cent more likely' to suffer social media abuse than their male counterparts. While the likes of tournament hosts England are a professional side who have become used to increasing scrutiny, several of the other 15 competing teams are semi-professional or amateur outfits for whom the World Cup will provide a whole new level of exposure. 'Supporting athletes, having an athlete-centred approach, I think, is fundamental to everything that the competition is doing and that we are doing at World Rugby,' said Sally Horrox, the global governing body's head of women's rugby. 'So our performance teams have been working very closely on programmes with the unions to make sure that there is mental health support, for example, for those athletes who are away from home. 'Some of them have families, some of them have other jobs. The game in many parts of the world is still an amateur to semi-professional game, so they will be experiencing something very, very different. 'So we take our responsibilities very seriously.' Tournament organisers said on Aug 19 they expected the Sept 27 final at Twickenham to feature a sell-out crowd of over 80,000 – a record for any women's rugby match. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 18 persons nabbed and 82 vapes seized in HSA ops in Raffles Place and Haji Lane Singapore 3 Sengkang Green Primary pupils suspended for bullying schoolmate, with 1 of them caned: MOE Singapore Woman trapped between train doors: Judge rules SBS Transit '100% responsible' Singapore Religion growing in importance for Singaporeans: IPS study Life Record number of arts patrons in 2024, but overall donation dips to $45.74m Life 'Loss that's irreplaceable': Local film-makers mourn closure of Singapore indie cinema The Projector Singapore Nearly 2 years' jail, caning for man caught with at least 100 sexually explicit videos of children Singapore Grab users in Singapore shocked by fares of over $1,000 due to display glitch More than 375,000 tickets have been sold across all 32 matches at this World Cup, with a huge global television audience anticipated as well. 'We're ready to break records in attendances, viewership and engagement,' tournament director Sarah Massey said during the launch event at Twickenham. 'This is going to be the biggest global celebration of women's rugby that we have ever seen.' But with that opportunity come attendant risks and World Rugby, in April, announced a collaboration with the Signify Group to use the data organisation's 'Threat Matrix' that monitors social media platforms to detect and report abusive posts and comments. 'No one deserves that type of abuse in this environment,' added Horrox. 'And sadly, female athletes, are 30 per cent more likely to experience this type of abuse than men.' World Cup favourites England open the tournament against the United States in the northeast city of Sunderland on Aug 22, with the Americans boasting a breakout social media star in Ilona Maher, who has amassed over eight million followers. Meanwhile in men's rugby, world champions South Africa will play Japan at Wembley on Nov 1 – the first time they have met in England since the Japanese recorded one of the greatest upsets in Rugby World Cup history in 2015. Japan, then as now coached by Eddie Jones, overcame the Springboks 34-32 in an absolute thriller of a match in Brighton. South Africa have gone on to beat the 'Brave Blossoms' twice since then, both times in Japan, as well as being crowned world champions in 2019 and 2023 giving them a record four victories in the sport's quadrennial showpiece. AFP
