The Italian duo of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori retained their mixed doubles title at the U.S. Open following a 6-3 5-7 10-6 victory over Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.
They retained their title after winning four matches in the series to earn $1 million after qualifying via wildcard.
Errani, and Vavassori started off strong to go up 3-0 in the first set before Swiatek/ Ruud fought back to bring the set on serve. They broke again in the eighth game and then held serve to claim the first set 6-3.
The second set went with serve until the defending champions broke in the seventh game and then held to lead 5-3.
However, Swiatek/ Ruud duo went on a four-game winning spree to take the second set 7-5 and send the final into a deciding match tiebreak.
Errani/ Vavasssori started the tiebreak on a strong note, going up 4-0 before holding on to the lead in a tense tiebreak to win 6-3, 5-7, 10-5 to lift the title for the second year in a row and their third Grand Slam mixed doubles title as a team.
Eight teams in the 16-team field qualified by their players’ combined singles rankings, with the remaining teams given wild cards.
Vavasssori was delighted to retain the crown they won last year despite his initial criticism of the new format.
He said: “I think it was important for us to play. Like, I have to say the initiative was also important because it was really a statement that doubles can become something better. The stadium was packed. The people were enjoying it. If something doesn’t work — like, we showed today that it’s working. Like, the people were going crazy.
“These two days will be really important for doubles in the future. We showed that doubles players are great players and this product can grow.”
Similarly, Sara Errani emphasised the importance of experience in the mixed doubles.
“I think in doubles we showed it’s very important to know how to play doubles. In doubles it’s not just serving good, hitting good, returning good. There are many other things that are not easy.”
Errani is one of only seven women who have completed a career Golden Slam in doubles.
She is an Olympic Games gold medalist, a former doubles world No. 1, achieved on 10 September 2012, major champion in doubles and mixed doubles, and a finalist in singles.
She has won nine singles and 38 doubles and mixed titles (including 9 majors, 8 WTA 1000 titles, and an Olympic gold medal), she is the Italian tennis player with the highest number of career titles.
Vavassori has won 10 ATP Tour and 16 ATP Challenger doubles titles.
