Key events
First set: *Swiatek/Ruud 1-4 Errani/Vavassori (*denotes next server)
Another brilliant hold by Vavassori, who pounds a couple of aces along the way before closing it out with an overhead winner.
First set: Swiatek/Ruud 1-3 Errani/Vavassori* (*denotes next server)
Swiatek’s shaky serve is at it again as her team goes down 15-30 on her racket. But they rattle off three quick points, capped by Iga’s superb backhand passing winner into the corner, to escape with the hold and get on the board.
First set: *Swiatek/Ruud 0-3 Errani/Vavassori (*denotes next server)
The Italians back up the break with ease and they’re halfway to the finish line in this opening set. (Remember: In the final, the format reverts to a best-of-three set match with a team needing to win six games to clinch the set rather than four.)
Errani/Vavassori break in second game of second set!
First set: Swiatek/Ruud 0-2 Errani/Vavassori* (*denotes next server)
And the Italians waste no time drawing first blood. Ruud falls behind 15-30, then 30-40, and Vavassori pounces with a forehand passing winner.
First set: *Swiatek/Ruud 0-1 Errani/Vavassori (*denotes next server)
Vavassori picks up where he left off in the semi-final, strolling through a service hold to put his team on the board.
The players have taken the court for tonight’s final. The defending US Open and reigning French Open champions are first through the tunnel. And then it’s Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, taking their chairs as TI’s Bring Em Out blasts through the arena soundsystem. On the line: the princely sum of $1m.
Errani/Vavassori win 4-2, 4-2!
Second set: Collins/Harrison 2-4, 2-4 Errani/Vavassori
Vavassori leaves no doubt, holding at love while crunching a 118mph ace along the way. The Italians are through to the final, where they will meet Swiatek and Ruud.
Errani/Vavassori break in fifth game of second set!
Second set: Collins/Harrison 2-4, 2-3 Errani/Vavassori* (*denotes next server)
And the Americans give it right back. Harrison goes down love-15, then 15-40. Three break points but the Italians only need one as Vavassori takes command of a highlight-reel all-court rally. Gripping stuff that brings to the crowd to its feet. Vavassori will serve to lift his team into the final after the changeover.
Collins/Harrison break in fourth game of second set!
Second set: *Collins/Harrison 2-4, 2-2 Errani/Vavassori (*denotes next server)
Well, well, well. Errani goes down love-30, then 30-40, facing a break point for the first time in this tournament. And the Americans seize on it, moving back on level terms in the second set.
Errani/Vavassori break in third game of second set!
Second set: Collins/Harrison 2-4, 1-2 Errani/Vavassori* (*denotes next server)
Just when it seemed like the momentum was drifting toward the Americans, Collins is broken at love and the Italians are within touching distance of the final.
Second set: *Collins/Harrison 2-4, 1-1 Errani/Vavassori (*denotes next server)
Now it’s the Italians who are pushed to a deciding point as Vavassori has trouble getting his first serve in. But he delivers at 40-all, pounding a 126mph service winner that Harrison can scarcely get a racket on.
Second set: Collins/Harrison 2-4, 1-0 Errani/Vavassori* (*denotes next server)
The Americans are pushed to 40-all on Harrison’s racket, but Harrison’s bold 104mph second serve on the deciding point pays off.
Errani/Vavassori win first set, 4-2!
First set: Collins/Harrison 2-4 Errani/Vavassori
Vavassori holds at love as the Italians waste no time bringing home the opening set in 20 minutes.
First set: Collins/Harrison 2-3 Errani/Vavassori* (*denotes next server)
Harrison goes down love-30 on his serve and the Italians are two points from snatching the opening set. They fight back for 30-all, but a Harrison double fault then gifts a set point to Errani and Vavassori. The Americans save it for 40-all and hold when an Errani volley sails wide.
First set: *Collins/Harrison 1-3 Errani/Vavassori (*denotes next server)
Errani, who’s been a ball of energy from the opening bell, serves her team to the easy cold, capping it with a gorgeous forehand passing winner. Harrison will serve to keep the Americans in the opening set.
First set: Collins/Harrison 1-2 Errani/Vavassori* (*denotes next server)
The Americans are on the board after Collins serves her way to a stress-free hold.
First set: *Collins/Harrison 0-2 Errani/Vavassori (*denotes next server)
Vavassori opens with a double fault, but the Italians win four straight points from there to back up the break, including a 120mph ace down the middle.
Errani/Vavassori break in first game of first set!
First set: Collins/Harrison 0-1 Errani/Vavassori* (*denotes next server)
Errani and Vavassori are receiving to start and win a splended all-court rally. They get their teeth into the Harrison serve at 15-30, then go triple break point down at 15-40. He’s lost all three points to Errani’s return, notably. A nifty Errani volley that Collins can’t handle nails down the break.
Now it’s time for the second semi-final between Danielle Collins/Christian Harrison and Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori. For the defending champions, this event is about more than a title defense. They’ve been outspoken critics of the new format, which squeezed out many specialist pairs, but their play has been the perfect rebuttal. Crisp volleys, impeccable teamwork and a refusal to be intimidated by star names have put them back on the brink of another final. A win here would be a symbolic statement for doubles players everywhere.
Swiatek/Ruud win 3-5, 5-3, 10-8!
Match tiebreak: Pegula/Draper 8-10 Swiatek/Ruud
Swiatek closes it out with a slice backhand winner to cap a magnificent comeback! They won the last six points of the tiebreaker to roar back from 4-8 down … and they’re through to the final later tonight!
Match tiebreak: Pegula/Draper 8-7 Swiatek/Ruud* (*denotes next server)
Pegula drops a couple of points on her racket and all of a sudden we’re back on serve.
Match tiebreak: Pegula/Draper 8-4 Swiatek/Ruud* (*denotes next server)
Pegula crunches a 109mph ace down the middle, before Ruud answers it with a 121mph number out wide. Then Swiatek/Ruud go down a double minibreak thanks to a mishit volley. An unforced error by Pegula pulls one of those minibreaks back before one by Swiatek keeps that margin. With Swiatek serving at 4-7 … she double-faults! Oh dear.
Match tiebreak: *Pegula/Draper 4-2 Swiatek/Ruud (*denotes next server)
Swiatek takes care of business on her serve, but her side still trails a minibreak. That margin holds into the change of ends after Ruud misfires on a return.
Match tiebreak: Pegula/Draper 3-0 Swiatek/Ruud* (*denotes next server)
Dragula snatch the first minibreak with a backhand passing winner, then consolate it with a couple of points on Draper’s serve for 3-love.
Swiatek/Ruud win second set, 5-3
Swiatek/Ruud break in eighth game of second set!
Second set: Pegula/Draper 5-3, 3-5 Swiatek/Ruud
Pegula falls behind 15-30 on her serve and Swiatek and Ruud are two points from forcing a decider. Ruud then smashes a forehand return winner for 15-40 and triple set point. Pegula brushes aside the first with a 108mph ace down the middle, but Ruud’s forehand settles matters on the next point. We’re headed to a 10-point match super-tiebreak to decide the first semi-final.
Second set: *Pegula/Draper 5-3, 3-4 Swiatek/Ruud (*denotes next server)
Swiatek, so shaky on her serve all night, drills through a love hold. Dragula to serve to force a tiebreaker after the changeover.
Second set: Pegula/Draper 5-3, 3-3 Swiatek/Ruud* (*denotes next server)
Draper, who’d dropped only three points on his serve all night, plays a few loose points to go 15-40 and triple set point down. Oh boy. He erases two of them with powerful first serves that can’t be returned into the court. 40-all. And on the third Swiatek nets a forehand early in the rally to allow the escape!
Second set: *Pegula/Draper 5-3, 2-3 Swiatek/Ruud (*denotes next server)
A stress-free hold on the racket of Ruud, who’s been serving beautifully tonight. Pegula and Draper will serve to stay in the second set after the change of ends.
Swiatek/Ruud break in fourth game of second set!
Second set: Pegula/Draper 5-3, 2-2 Swiatek/Ruud* (*denotes next server)
Signs of life for Swiatek and Ruud after three straight unforced errors from their opponents give them a love-40 edge and several chances to break right back. And they need only one of them, when a biffed forehand by Pegula caps the break at love. Shocker!
Pegula/Draper break in third game of second set!
Second set: *Pegula/Draper 5-3, 2-1 Swiatek/Ruud (*denotes next server)
Swiatek’s serve continues to betray her as her team goes down love-15, then 15-40. After faulting at break point down, her 88mph second serve is gobbled up by Draper, whose sizzling backhand winner seals the break. She’s been broken in all three of her service games so far tonight.
Second set: Pegula/Draper 5-3, 1-1 Swiatek/Ruud* (*denotes next server)
Straightforward hold for Team Dragula. On serve early in the second set.
Second set: *Pegula/Draper 5-3, 0-1 Swiatek/Ruud (*denotes next server)
Another hold behind Ruud’s serve. Some high-quality rallies with all four players showing off their shotmaking.
Pegula/Draper win first set, 5-3!
First set: Pegula/Draper 5-3 Swiatek/Ruud
Pegula and Draper hold from love-15 down to take the opening set after 37 minutes, sealing it when Ruud badly overcooks a return.
Pegula/Draper break in seventh game of first set!
First set: *Pegula/Draper 4-3 Swiatek/Ruud (*denotes next server)
Swiatek’s serving woes continue as her team goes down love-30, then 30-40 on her racket. A lengthy video review of an alleged double-bounce ends with the point being upheld for Pegula and Draper. From there, the top seeds snatch the break. They will serve for the first set after the changeover.
First set: Pegula/Draper 3-3 Swiatek/Ruud* (*denotes next server)
Pegula caps a love hold with a sharply angled volley into the tramlines. Still on serve in the opener.
First set: *Pegula/Draper 2-3 Swiatek/Ruud (*denotes next server)
A comfortable hold for Swiatek and Ruud. Draper will serve to keep his team in the opening set after the change of ends.
Swiatek/Ruud break in fourth game of first set!
First set: Pegula/Draper 2-2 Swiatek/Ruud* (*denotes next server)
Swiatek and Ruud immediately break back, benefitting from a patch of error-strewn play on the Pegula/Draper side. Back on serve in the opening set.
Pegula/Draper break in third game of first set!
First set: *Pegula/Draper 2-1 Swiatek/Ruud (*denotes next server)
Swiatek and Ruud go down love-15 then 15-40 on Swiatek’s serve. A couple of break-point chances for Pegula and Draper. They save the first, then the second. But a wicked backhand by Pegula forces an error at 40-all and seizes the early break for the No 1 seeds. It’s the first time either of these teams have been broken in the tournament.
First set: Pegula/Draper 1-1 Swiatek/Ruud* (*denotes next server)
Pegula and Draper are pushed to 30-all on their opening service game, but Draper responds with a 107mph ace down the middle followed by a 103mph first serve out wide that Ruud can’t return into the court.
First set: *Pegula/Draper 0-1 Swiatek/Ruud (*denotes next server)
After winning the first two points on Ruud’s serve, the Norwegian makes three straight unforced errors off his forehand side to go break point down. But they quickly brush it aside and nail down the hold with an overhand smash winner.
The top seeds against the No 3 seeds pits two of the most intriguing scratch partnerships against each other. Pegula’s steadiness and Draper’s net aggression carried them smoothly through Tuesday, highlighted by their dismantling of Raducanu and Alcaraz. But Swiatek and Ruud, fresh off a late-night dash from Cincinnati, handled the turnaround with ease, playing crisp and composed doubles. With $1m and bragging rights on the line, this semi-final is a clash of singles stars who’ve found instant chemistry.
Pegula and Draper have won the toss and elected to receive. We’ll be under way once they’ve gone through their warm-ups.
The lights have dimmed inside Arthur Ashe Stadium as a color guard takes its place along the baseline for the US national anthem. The upper bowl isn’t quite filled to capacity, but it’s a greater turnout than we can remember for mixed doubles at the US Open. The first four Pegula, Draper, Swiatek and Ruud should be making their entrances shortly.
Preamble
The newest event on the US Open schedule promised innovation and drew skepticism in equal measure. By Tuesday evening, though, the revamped mixed doubles had already delivered a full day of drama, packed stadiums and a final four brimming with storylines ahead of tonight’s semifinal and championship matches.
The “newly reimagined” tournament, condensed into two days with a slimmed-down 16-team field, has shifted the emphasis from doubles specialists to marquee singles names. Sets to four games, no-ad scoring and 10-point tiebreaks quickened the tempo, producing brisk contests that felt more like a highlight reel than a grind. “It’s not an exhibition,” Jessica Pegula insisted after partner Jack Draper called it one by mistake. And judging by the crowds that filled Ashe and Armstrong Stadiums, fans agreed. Free admission during Fan Week helped fill the seats, a stark contrast to the half-empty stands when mixed doubles finals used to be buried deep in the second week.
Day one wasn’t kind to the biggest stars. Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, whose pairing drew the most pre-tournament attention, bowed out in straight sets to Pegula and Draper. Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina, the No 2 seeds, were also bounced early, as were Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic. But the new format wasn’t just about celebrity. It also gave doubles traditionalists a chance to remind everyone of their craft. Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, last year’s champions and the lone established team in the draw, played flawless attacking doubles to reach another semi-final. “We are also playing for the doubles players,” Vavassori said pointedly, even as he admitted the packed house was a victory in itself.
The early rounds also provided a timely boost for Draper. Sidelined since Wimbledon with a forearm injury, the Brit looked sharp alongside Pegula, attacking the net with aggression and rediscovering the form that carried him to a Flushing Meadows semifinal last year. Pegula’s calm baseline control complemented him perfectly, and the top seeds surged through their two matches without dropping more than two games in a set.
Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, the No 3 seeds, showed their resilience with two commanding wins less than 24 hours after a late-night arrival from Cincinnati. Both looked fresh despite the hectic turnaround and their teamwork clicked immediately. They now meet Pegula and Draper in what looks like the marquee semi-final.
The other side of the draw brings a twist: Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison, late replacements after Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal, suddenly find themselves one win away from a million-dollar payday. They’ll face Errani and Vavassori, who are determined to defend their title – and to prove doubles skill still matters in a field dominated by singles stars.
Stay with us as we bring you updates, analysis and courtside color from Flushing Meadows once the first semi-final begins at the top of the hour.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Tumaini Carayol’s report off Tuesday’s action.
