NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 19: The doubles team of Sara Errani of Italy and Andrea Vavassori of Italy celebrate a game win during the mixed doubles first round match against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and Taylor Fritz of the United States at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 19, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(August 19, 2025) FLUSHING, NY – Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani picked up where they left off as last year’s mixed doubles champions, except this year, they came into the US Open as wild cards due to a change in the competition focusing on inviting high-ranking singles players into draw and playing a “Fast Four format” as opposed to regular sets.
Both players were very vocal about the format since they were the only true doubles player in the 16 team draw.
The Italians are now in the semifinals of the mixed doubles with two wins on Tuesday. The firest round they defeated Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2 and they were victorious in their quarterfinal match over Andrey Rublev and Karolina Muchova.
“Our mission was to play this tournament, Vavasorri said to media. “We were not sure during the year.
“Like, for us was important to send a message before the tournament. When we got the wild card, I was grateful to play. At least there were not so many doubles players.
“We are also playing for them. I think it’s important to show also that doubles players are great players. I think our main goal in the future will be to change a little bit the narrative because singles players are amazing on singles, but doubles players are amazing in doubles. If doubles player play against singles, sometimes they play better because they are more organized.
“I think also we had so many legends in the past that played doubles well, like the Bryans here are completely legends. I think we have also maybe a little bit more in the past to see so many great players that play doubles before, now focus more in the future also, like, in the main stages.”
“Tactics in doubles are very important,” he said in the on-court interview. “There are many very strong players here, but we often play together, we also talk off the court, and this is important.
“We also play for all the doubles players who cannot compete at the mixed doubles tournament here. We try to do our best.”
The Italian team will face the last entry into the tournament Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison for a place in the final.
