Tim Henman has poured scorn on the new-look US Open mixed doubles, calling the tournament ‘disrespectful’ and disagreeing with its status as a Grand Slam event in an incendiary new interview.
The reshaped competition was designed to tempt top singles stars into the draw, with top players including Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper, Iga Swiatek, and Emma Raducanu partnered up with their high-ranked peers.
The tournament saw a shortened match format, with ‘fast four’ rules – first to four sets, no deuce point, and a match tie-break third set – in play in Flushing Meadows.
Further allowances to tempt singles players, including an eye-popping $1million prize and scheduling during US Open Fan Week ahead of the start of the Grand Slam, were also made.
Despite the raft of singles talent in the draw however, it was the defending champion partnership Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori who claimed the top prize, scything through their competition before beating Swiatek and Casper Ruud in Wednesday night’s final.
Errani and Vavassori had critcised the competition for its lack of mixed doubles stars, and said they were competing on behalf of all the doubles players kept out from competing for a Grand Slam title.
But Henman has taken his opposition to the revamped competition one step further, calling it out as a glorified exhibition.
‘Am I excited to watch those players on court? Absolutely,’ Henman, who is on the board of directors for Wimbledon, told Telegraph Sport. ‘However I disagree that, a: it’s a grand slam event, and b; with taking it outside of the two weeks (of the tournament) because I think that is disrespectful for the tour events that are taking place on the WTA and ATP Tour in the week before the US Open.
‘We’re trying to get the sport to collaborate better. In my opinion, it’s not helpful. I would make it an exhibition.’
Henman is not alone in calling the tournament an exhibition, with Draper called out by his partner Jessica Pegula for doing so accidentally after their quarter-final victory on Tuesday evening.
Draper attempted to cover his tracks by comparing the vibe of the event to an exhibition, and the energy he drew from playing against interesting partnerships, but the organisers have gone to great pains to ensure their star-studded project is taken seriously.
Henman however disputed that this was possible, due to the change in format.
‘This tournament very much devalues the title when it changes the scoring system, and it completely changes the entry system,’ the former British No 1 continued.
‘But I understand that in mixed and regular doubles, the product is significantly elevated if singles players play. They’re not normally going to do that at the majors because of physical demands.’
The US Open nearly saw their shiny new product sabotaged at the 11th hour after a slew of late drop-outs from stars looking to conserve their energy ahead of the main tournament.
Emma Navarro, Tommy Paul, and Jannik Sinner were among those to withdraw from the event over the preceding weekend or later, with Sinner’s withdrawal after the Cincinnati Open final on Monday evening meaning Danielle Collins and her partner Christian Harrison were confirmed to play just hours before the first match at 11am.
