by Even with a new format this time, Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani successfully defended their final mixed double title at the US Open.
The Italian duo beat the twinning of Casper Ruud and Iga świątek 6-3, 5-7, (10-6) in the final at the Arthur Ashe stadium in New York on Wednesday evening. This gave them the title in the altered format of the mixed double competition during the Grand Slam event and a new price of a million dollars. It is their third major title together in a team.
Vavassori and Errani took off from the jump. They drove on an advance of 4-1 in the opening set before Ruud and świątek finally started to back away. They won two consecutive games to reduce the deficit in a single match, and even took a 40-15 lead in the eighth game, but Vavassori and Errani responded perfectly. They won seven consecutive points to regain control and quickly close the opening set.
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Ruud and świątek are much better hung in the second set, and even took an advance of 3-2 from the start. Vavassori also started to receive treatment on his left thigh, and actually needed a medical waiting period. This break seemed to be exactly what he needed, however, because Vavassori and Errani won eight of the following 11 points to start again. They joined a deficit of 30-0 with four consecutive points in the next match, and apparently put Ruud and świątek each time they got closer.
Ruud and świątek managed to hang on to the ninth game of the second set, and stun the Italians to link things 5-5. With all the momentum, Ruud and świątek wanted to win the next match, then broke the service of Errani to force the decisive equality.
Whatever they lost, however, came back immediately in equality. Errani and Vavassori collected three points immediately massive slams, then took an advance of 4-2 after świątek had trouble with his service. Vavassori and Errani survived a wild rally to take an advance of 6-4 too, after having left świątek and Ruud back.
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Świątek and Ruud achieved a huge return to even make the final. After winning the second set to force the equality break, świątek and Ruud scored the last six points of the night to ensure the victory after falling 8-4. Świątek marked a reverse winner in the basic line to seal the agreement and drop Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper.
Vavassori and Errani did not waste time in their semi-final match where they rolled over the Americans Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison 4-2, 4-2 to return to the final.
The United States Open has changed things in the mixed double competition this year in order to relaunch this part of the event. Not only did they put a seven -digit price to win – in comparison, Errani and Vavassori only divided $ 200,000 for their mixed double victory last year – but they changed the rules a lot. Sets were played in four games instead of six before the final on Wednesday, there was no advantage and there was a match of equality of match instead of a third set. The event was reduced in two to only 16 teams and moved before the US Open Singles competition was even in progress.
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Although they won, Errani was one of those who were not satisfied with the switch. After all, they were among the only real double team who was in competition.
“It would be as if, at the Olympic Games, they had not left the riders in height and that the basketball players would compete in high jump because it is more” interesting “. If you want to do it, I suppose you can, but you cannot assign them medals,” said Errani in advance, via the Associated Press.
“You cannot have a double of Grand Slam [trophy] And do not let the players in double participate. … you exclude them from their sport. It’s dishonest. “”
Regardless of any criticism they have made, Errani and Vavassori have always come out in mind and have another Grand Slam title to their credit. This and a check for $ 500,000 should count for something.
