US Open mixed doubles: Draper/Pegula v Alcaraz/Raducanu and more

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Key events

The rules

The last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be best of three sets, but first to four games not six. If a game goes to deuce, the winners of the next point take it – there’s no advantage. If a match is level at a set apiece, a 10-point match tiebreak will settle it.

Breaking: Danielle Collins and Christian Harris replace Sinner/Siniakova.

On which point, the reason for the TBD below is that Jannik Sinner, who retired ill when 5-0 down to Carlos Alcaraz in the Cincinnati final, has pulled out.

I can’t lie, I’m buzzing that we’ve got two extra days of banging tennis. This competition should just feature the best mixed doubles pairings, not the best singles players who can be arsed.

Email! “I agree, its money-fuelled tokenism and could cause the end of doubles as we know it at the major tournaments, says Andrew Benton. “Or, it might be the start of a doubles revival, from which the specialists will benefit particularly – at least people will be watching these matches as they feature the rich and famous, and who knows where that extra interest and investment could lead. Well, probably nowhere. But it’s a bit like the Hundred.”

I disagree it’s like the Hundred as that isn’t taking a major tournament away from those who play the event best. I also don’t believe doubles needs gimmicks – it just needs to be marketed and respected properly. Henry Patten was really good on this when I interviewed him in May.

The winners – we’ll know who they are tomorrow – will earn $1m, fives times more than went to last year’s champions. According to BBC, appearance fees are north of $50,000, or in other words, the players involved are competing to get paid and to prepare for their singles campaigns, not because they’re motivated to win a grand slam.

I’ve not the slightest clue how the seeding works, but it’s worth noting that Errani/Vavassori, included as a sop to sporting merit – they’re the defending champions – have not been so honoured.