Muchová and Menšík Win US Open Mixed Doubles Title in New York

Karolína Muchová and Jakub Menšík captured the US Open mixed doubles title in New York by defeating Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in a decisive tiebreak in the final on Wednesday night. The Czech pair overcame a tough challenge, winning 6-3, 1-6, [10-6], capping a dramatic night that included their semi-final victory over Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev by 5-4 (6), 3-5, [11-9]. Muchová and Menšík displayed resilience by saving two match points in the semi-final and elevating their performance in critical moments, with Menšík’s powerful serving proving crucial in the match tiebreak, including a match-point saving ace at 9-9.

Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, seeded fourth and undefeated as a team at 7-0, reached the final after a comeback win over Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, who had never played doubles together before the tournament.

“We saved all three break points and won the final four games of the set to force a match tiebreak,” said Bencic, highlighting their ability to rally under pressure. Menšík contributed significantly with his aggressive net play and powerful serves, while Muchová’s crafty volleys helped secure the first set of the final.

The final used full sets to six games for the first two sets, with a 10-point tiebreak deciding the match if necessary, differing from earlier rounds played to four games per set. The champions earned a $1 million prize, reflecting the event’s revamped format aimed at attracting top singles players and elevating the mixed doubles competition’s profile.

The tournament’s changes, including a smaller field and a week-earlier schedule, drew mixed reactions but succeeded in drawing strong crowds and highlighted the appeal of singles players participating in mixed doubles. Many notable players, including Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, participated but exited by the quarter-finals, leaving the final to the rising Czech duo and the established Bencic-Cobolli pairing. The victory marked a significant achievement for Muchová and Menšík as they capitalized on momentum from their semi-final win and showcased their complementary skills throughout the tournament, as reported by wtatennis.com and theguardian.com.