FLUSHING MEADOWS, New York—There’s nothing like watching a US Open final. The excitement, anticipation, and quality of play can’t be beat.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of watching the mixed doubles final on Arthur Ashe stadium. That’s right–mixed doubles. Before the rain settled over the stadium, I watched from the sidelines as Americans Carly Gullickson & Travis Parrott won their first Grand Slam mixed doubles title. It was an unexpected win for both, since neither of them has ever won any Grand Slam title in any event, and came into the mixed doubles competition as wildcards.
Because mixed doubles tends to be the most overlooked competition at Grand Slam tournaments, not much is really known about it. And unless you are actually have a ticket to a Grand Slam, you probably won’t have a chance to see much of it, if at all. So, I’ve set out to explain the ins and outs of mixed doubles.
How It Works
- Mixed doubles is played the same way as doubles, but with one man and one woman playing as a team.
- Mixed doubles competition is only played at Grand Slam tournaments, as well as the Hopman Cup.
- There are 16 teams in a Grand Slam mixed doubles draw.
- Teams play five matches during a tournament – 1st round, 2nd round, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.
- Play format: best of three sets, with a 10-point match tie break in place of a third set (if needed).
- Players have to have a combined ranking of 100 or lower in order to qualify for mixed doubles.
The Approach
Finding a mixed doubles partner can be easy in some ways, since the method of finding a partner is very informal.
All you need to do is ask another player if they are interested, and voila, a mixed doubles team is formed. Teams can then sign up to play mixed doubles just a few days before a Grand Slam tournament begins.
The downside? Asking a player if they want to play mixed doubles can be an awkward process. Most players send text messages or email to do the asking, or ask a friend to ask another player. (High school dance, anyone?) No one is really sure of the rejection rate, but maybe that’s one statistic that doesn’t need to be figured out.
Mixed Doubles Champions
You are most likely going to see more doubles players compete in mixed doubles, and it is rare for any player to compete in all three events (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.)
But on some occasions, you will see some of the elite singles players throwing their hats into the mixed doubles ring at Grand Slam tournaments—and winning.
Top Ranked WTA Players With Mixed Doubles Titles
Victoria Azarenka (US Open, 2007, French Open 2008)
Jelena Jankovic (Wimbledon 2007)
Vera Zvonareva (Wimbledon 2006)
Venus Williams (French Open & Australian Open 1998)
Martina Navratilova holds the record for the most mixed doubles titles at 10.
Doubles players who also compete in mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments: Liezel Huber, Cara Black, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Nadia Petrova, Flavia Pennetta, and Patty Schnyder.
Even the game’s most popular newcomer, Melanie Oudin, played mixed doubles at the US Open this year, alongside fellow American Rajeev Ram.
Paula Vergara is a freelance tennis journalist, covering the WTA and ATP tours. Paula’s publishing credits include On the Baseline Tennis News, Tennis.com, USTA New England Magazine, and Bob Larson’s Tennis News. Paula is also a member of the United States Tennis Writers’ Association. To view her work, visit www.paula-vergara.blogspot.com.
On the Baseline’s live coverage of the 2009 US Open is brought to you by Grand Slam Tennis Tours.
It’s nice to see some attention paid to mixed doubles!
Credit, also, to Daniela Hantuchova, who–like Navratilova–holds a career grand slam in mixed doubles.