Post by : Meena Ariff

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek showed her strength and determination once again at the US Open mixed doubles competition. Just a day earlier, she had battled hard to win the Cincinnati Open final, flying overnight to New York with barely any rest. Yet, despite the fatigue, she returned to the court with Norwegian player Casper Ruud and the pair secured back-to-back wins to move into the semi-finals.

The mixed doubles event at this year’s US Open has been revamped with a new scoring system and is being played in the week before the main singles event begins. This has added an extra layer of excitement for players and fans alike, as many top names from both men’s and women’s tennis are taking part.

From Cincinnati Champion to New York Challenger

Swiatek had just lifted the trophy in Cincinnati after a tough two-hour fight against Jasmine Paolini. That match demanded a lot of physical and mental energy. Right after her victory, she rushed to the airport, caught a late-night flight to New York, and only checked into her hotel at around 2:30 in the morning.

The next day, there was no time for rest. She stepped onto the courts of Arthur Ashe Stadium, ready for yet another challenge. Instead of showing signs of tiredness, she looked fresh, focused, and full of energy.

“Honestly, the last two days have felt like one day, but I’m super happy to be here,” Swiatek said after her matches. She also admitted that the quick turnaround helped her recover because it kept her mind active and prevented her from slowing down.

A Winning Partnership With Ruud

Swiatek partnered with Casper Ruud, who is also known for his fighting spirit and consistent performance on the ATP Tour. Though they had little time to practice together, their chemistry on the court was natural. Ruud joked that he was simply “jumping on Iga’s winning train” since she has been in great form lately.

Their first match was against the American duo of Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe. Swiatek and Ruud won quickly, wrapping up the game 4-1, 4-2 in just 39 minutes. After a short break of only about 20 minutes, they returned for their quarter-final against Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti. Once again, the pair stayed sharp and efficient, winning 5-3, 4-2.

Ruud praised his partner, saying, “I think everyone should show some appreciation to Iga today. She only got to her hotel 12 hours ago at 2.30 am, and she’s here playing.”

Semi-Final Clash With Pegula and Draper

The road to the final is not going to be easy. In the semi-final, Swiatek and Ruud will face the top-seeded pair of Jessica Pegula from the United States and Jack Draper from Britain. Pegula and Draper have been in great form, defeating some of the biggest names in the tournament.

They first beat the much-talked-about team of Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu with a solid 4-2, 4-2 win. In their quarter-final, they swept aside Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva 4-1, 4-1, showing how dangerous they can be.

Big Names Fall in Early Rounds

The mixed doubles competition has already brought some surprises. Novak Djokovic, one of the greatest men’s players, paired with Olga Danilovic, but they were knocked out early by Medvedev and Andreeva.

American legend Venus Williams, playing alongside Reilly Opelka, also exited the tournament after losing to Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev 4-2, 5-4.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani, the defending champions, proved their quality again by beating second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2.

Sinner Forced to Withdraw

Another big update came earlier on Tuesday when it was confirmed that world number one Jannik Sinner would not be able to compete in the mixed doubles. Sinner had been unwell and had already retired from his Cincinnati Open final against Alcaraz due to illness. He was supposed to team up with Czech doubles expert Katerina Siniakova, but the pair had to withdraw.

They were replaced in the draw by American players Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison.

New Format Adds Excitement

This year’s US Open mixed doubles is different from the usual format. The scoring system has been shortened, making matches faster and more intense. Sets are played up to four games, with no-advantage scoring. If the score reaches four-all, a tiebreaker decides the set. If matches go to a deciding third set, it is played as a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a full set.

The final will be slightly longer, played as a best-of-three set match up to six games, again with no-advantage scoring. If tied at six-all, a normal tiebreaker is used, and if needed, a 10-point match tiebreak replaces the third set.

The stakes are high, too—this year’s winners will take home a prize of one million US dollars, one of the richest rewards in mixed doubles history.

For Swiatek and Ruud, the journey continues with high hopes. If they manage to get past Pegula and Draper in the semi-final, they will be just one step away from lifting the trophy in New York.

Swiatek’s remarkable energy and fighting spirit, combined with Ruud’s consistency, make them a strong pair to watch. Fans are excited to see how far they can go, especially given Swiatek’s dramatic schedule and the way she is handling it with positivity.

This new format of the US Open mixed doubles has already proven to be entertaining, with shocking exits, quick matches, and surprising performances. As the competition heads into its final stages, all eyes will be on the semi-finals and the much-anticipated final clash.