US Open 2025: Two thrilling matches took place in the mixed doubles summit match of the current Grand Slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium during a rain-soaked contest. In an unprecedented encounter, Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud took on World No. 3 Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula. In the end, Swiatek and Ruud prevailed 3-5, 5-3, and 10-8 in a tiebreak to guarantee their place in the championship match.
In the final, they will now take against Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani, the reigning champions. The participants will compete for a $1 million prize fund in the final, which will be held on the same day.
Draper and Jessica elected to receive after winning the toss. Since Draper made an unforced error in the first game, Swiatek and Ruud had a head start and the scorecard read 1-0. However, they pulled off a spectacular comeback and won the subsequent match, tying the score at one. Pegula and Draper won the point and grabbed a 2-1 lead in the third game, which ended up being a close call and going to deuce.
After a protracted rally, Swiatek and Ruud bravely came back to equalize the score at 2-2. With both teams putting up a strong fight and exchanging games, the set ended in a 3-3 draw. The umpire decided against Swiatek’s protest to a call on a match point because she believed the ball bounced twice. The chance was seized by Pegula and Draper, who took the game and put themselves ahead 4-3. After thirty-seven minutes, Pegula and Draper won the first set 5-3.
However, after winning the first game and taking a 1-0 lead, Swiatek and Ruud staged an incredible comeback during the set. After that, Pegula and Draper recovered and brought the scorecard even at one. They were ahead 2-1 as Draper was able to play Swiatek’s serve aggressively. However, Ruud and Swiatek recovered once again as their opponents made three unforced mistakes, tying the game at 2-2. Ruud gained a 3-2 lead with a stunning serve.
High-octane rallies and fierce competition characterized the second set. Swiatek’s forehand gave Pegula and Draper the victory at a pivotal 40-all. Ruud and Swiatek were adamant about winning in spite of the loss, and they ultimately took a 4-3 lead. They leveled the match at one set each after winning the set 5-3.
They have to play a tiebreaker to advance to the summit clash. This Grand Slam was unique in that the first semifinal had gone to a tiebreaker. When Swiatek made a mistake in the tiebreaker, the top seeds were behind 8–4. By 10-8, they had won the match and the tiebreaker after winning six straight points.
The Match to Make it to the Finals
The US Open introduced a mixed doubles semifinal match, primarily to draw elite singles players. Even though Errani and Vavassori could defeat Christian Harrison and Danielle Collins 4-2, 4-2, and had already qualified for the summit clash, they were nevertheless handed a wild card despite demonstrating their dissatisfaction with this format.
They are about to become the first Flushing Meadows double champions since Jamie Murray and Bethanie Mattek-Sands in 2018–19. With sets to six games, the final will follow a conventional set format.
