Controversy Erupts Over US Open Mixed Doubles Wildcards and Format Changes

Just days after prominent players like Venus Williams and Emma Raducanu received wildcard entries into the US Open mixed doubles tournament, Czech tennis star Kateřina Siniaková publicly voiced her dissatisfaction with the selection process. The USTA has restructured this year's mixed doubles event, including it in Fan Week at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, featuring 16 top ATP-WTA pairs and a $1 million prize fund. This format change emphasizes singles competition, leaving many doubles specialists, including Siniaková, feeling overlooked. Siniaková, a decorated doubles player with a Wimbledon title and Olympic gold medal, also saw her wildcard request denied. She expressed frustration over the exclusion of top-ranked doubles players, noting that even two world number ones in doubles, including herself, were left out of the tournament. She had hoped to team up with ATP doubles leader Marcelo Arévalo. Meanwhile, several high-profile partnerships are set for the event, such as Raducanu with Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek with Casper Rudd, and Djokovic with Olga Danilovic. Notably, Venus Williams, who recently returned to competition at the Citi Open, will participate wit...