• Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu to pair in US Open mixed doubles event.
• The event has garnered entries from nine of the top 10 male and female players.
• The format of the matches will include best of three sets with innovative scoring.
• Criticism arises from former champions regarding the new event format.

In a significant change to the traditional tournament structure, former singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu have been confirmed to team up for the newly revamped mixed doubles event at the U.S. Open. Organizers report that nine of the world’s top-10 men and women players have entered the competition, which will commence during the tournament's "Fan Week," a week set aside before the main singles draw, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The exciting format offers a substantial $1 million in prize money for the winning team and will feature 16 teams. The entry window closes on July 28, allowing the best eight teams based on combined singles rankings to qualify, along with eight wildcard entries. USTA CEO Lew Sherr emphasized the intent to showcase the world's finest talent, noting, "It shows that the players are behind what we are trying to do," according to Dawn.

The competition will introduce an innovative scoring system for the matches, which will be best of three sets. The new format dictates short sets up to four games, a no-ad scoring system, and tiebreakers at four-all, culminating in a 10-point tiebreak if the match reaches a third set. The final will also adopt a best-of-three sets scenario concluding at six games. This departure from conventional rules has sparked considerable discussion, according to Channel News Asia.

While the new format aims to generate excitement, it has faced criticism from former doubles champions, including Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who argued that the changes represent a "profound injustice" to traditional doubles players. They labelled the event a "pseudo-exhibition focused only on entertainment and show," expressing concerns over prioritizing profit over the sport's integrity. Their commentary highlights a tension within the competitive structure of tennis, as they have also entered the competition this year, according to Reuters and Dawn.