Key events
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.