Sara Errani, Andrea Vavassori defeat Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud, defend US Open mixed doubles title

NEW YORK—New format, same champions.

Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori knocked out a field of singles stars to defend their mixed doubles title at the 2025 US Open, edging past the upstart team of Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, 6-3, 5-7 10-6 in a dramatic final on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I think these two days will be really important for doubles in the future because we show that doubles player are great players," Vavassori said after the match. "I think this product can grow."

Errani and Vavassori were not guaranteed entry into the revamped mixed doubles event, which prioritized players with higher singles rankings, but following a statement protesting their potential exclusion, the Italians were ultimately admitted via wild card.

"I don't think if we didn't do the statement if we would have played this tournament, honestly," Vavassori claimed.

Once in the tournament, the reigning Roland Garros champions vowed to play “for all doubles players” as they set to work at winning their second Grand Slam title of the season. They breezed through Day 1 of play with wins over No. 2 seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz and Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev to reach semifinals, and kicked off the championship evening with a 4-2, 4-2 win over Americans Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison.

To win the title, they would need to topple Swiatek and Ruud, who first bonded over the clay-court swing when Ruud expressed his support for the former world No. 1 after a disappointing defeat at the Mutua Madrid Open. Competing together for the first time in Flushing Meadows, they shrugged off Swiatek’s quick turnaround from winning the Cincinnati Open to beat both Madison Keys-Frances Tiafoe and Caty McNally-Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets. In the semifinals, they rallied from a set down and won the match tiebreak from 4-8 down to book their first mixed doubles major final.

"It's been an honor and really fun to share the court with Iga and other players," Ruud said. "It's the first time they're doing this. I know it's created a lot of reaction, somewhat bold to do it. You can't argue that it's not great for fans because you have full packed Arthur Ashe at midnight on a Wednesday of the quallie week. How often do you get that?"

Errani and Vavassori initially appeared to have the upper hand as their doubles experience helped them capture the first set and take a 5-3 lead in the second. But just as the Italians looked to have the match sewn up, Swiatek and Ruud scored a crucial break as Vavassori served for the match, breaking Errani to force another Sudden Death.

With the title on the line, Errani and Vavassori stepped up once more, showing superior net play to take a 9-5 lead on the Polish-Norwegian team, converting their second championship point when Swiatek netted a final volley.

We show that you have to think, be smart. On doubles there are more things than hitting the ball. Sara Errani

"In doubles is not just serving good, hitting good, returning good," said Errani, herself a former top tier singles player. "There are many other things that are not easy. I think the doubles players improve that things a lot to see, to cross, many other thing that is not only hitting the ball.

"We show that you have to think, be smart. On doubles there are more things than hitting the ball. Singles has other things and doubles has another things. We show that we are good on doubles, you know, to change the game, to know what to do."

While Errani and Vavassori will look to make a clean sweep when they enter their respective doubles events next week, Swiatek and Ruud will both feature in the singles. Swiatek will be the No. 2 seed after winning her sixth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon earlier this summer. Ruud, a former US Open finalist, is projected to be the No. 12 seed in the men’s singles tournament.