On the first day of the US Open mixed doubles, eight Grand Slam champions were eliminated, leaving Swiatek as the sole representative, earning an impressive $1.4 million.

Following the conclusion of the first day’s matches at the US Open mixed doubles—an event headlined by nine Grand Slam champions—Swiatek was the only one to progress, with the remaining eight all exiting the tournament prematurely.

Since the US Open mixed doubles underwent reforms this year—moving the schedule forward to coincide with the qualifiers and raising the champion’s prize money to a record-setting million dollars—what was once considered an unremarkable event has now become a major attraction. With top players like Djokovic, Alcaraz, Swiatek, Medvedev, Andreeva, Pegula, and Rybakina all participating, the mixed doubles instantly became the center of attention, serving as a tantalizing appetizer before the main singles events officially began.

When the US Open mixed doubles schedule was announced, observant fans and netizens noticed that this year’s event had already set a new historical record.

Among the 16 participating teams, there are nine singles Grand Slam champions, boasting a combined total of 50 Grand Slam titles. If divided among 32 players, everyone would get a share, highlighting just how powerful the appeal of this year’s US Open mixed doubles truly is.

As a result, some remarked that with so many Grand Slam winners fiercely competing for the million-dollar prize, the level of play would immediately rise to a Grand Slam standard, with the excitement reaching its peak right from the start.

Unfortunately, after the first day, the Grand Slam champions’ performances were rather disappointing: Djokovic, Alcaraz, Venus Williams, Naomi Osaka, Medvedev, Rybakina, Raducanu, and Keys—all eight Grand Slam winners—were eliminated.

After the matches, many expressed particular regret over the exits of Alcaraz and Raducanu.

When the two confirmed their partnership for the US Open mixed doubles, their previous rumors and immense popularity made them the biggest draw of the event. With their early exit, the buzz around the mixed doubles inevitably took a hit, and fans who loved to speculate missed out on watching their close, almost-couple-like interactions.

After Alcaraz’s elimination, some jokingly teased the Spaniard, saying that the good fortune from his Cincinnati Masters win was expected to carry over to the US Open mixed doubles, but the opposite happened: “Compared to Swiatek, he still has a long way to go in this regard.”

After both Alcaraz and Swiatek wrapped up their Cincinnati title runs, their strong friendship quickly became public. While flying to New York together, they even posted a joint statement from the plane: “An unforgettable two weeks, a dream come true! Thank you all for your support!”

Unlike Alcaraz, who struggled to adapt after transitioning from Cincinnati, Swiatek’s debut made it clear to everyone what a true queen looks like!

Teaming up with Ruud, the Polish star swept through the US Open mixed doubles: they crushed home favorites Keys and Tiafoe 4-1, 4-2 in the first round, then defeated McLina and Musetti by the same score in the second. These two wins earned Swiatek $200,000, which is over 1.43 million RMB—a testament to her incredible earning power.

Seeing Ruud grinning from ear to ear, fans and netizens joked that he’d made the perfect choice partnering with Swiatek. Not only could he easily share in the prize money, but he also benefited from being paired with the only Grand Slam champion still in the mixed doubles draw, boosting his own visibility.

If Ruud has benefited from teaming up with Swiatek, then Collins and Harris have outshone everyone else. Thanks to Sinner’s withdrawal in Cincinnati due to health issues, Collins and Harris got their chance as replacements, seized the opportunity, and worked seamlessly together to secure a spot in the US Open mixed doubles semifinals.

It’s also worth noting that American heiress Pegula and British heartthrob Draper performed well, securing another semifinal spot. The last semifinal berth went to Errani and Vavassori. As the defending champions, Errani has publicly declared she will fight for all the mixed doubles players unable to compete this year, hinting at her determination to challenge the non-specialist pairs—adding even more intrigue to the US Open mixed doubles!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)