Swiatek narrowly missed out on the chance to dethrone the defending champions and claim the 7-million-yuan grand prize, and although she didn't help Ruud secure the title, she still received a small accolade.

Once Errani and Vavassori claimed the US Open mixed doubles title, fans and netizens had interesting words of encouragement for Swiatek and Ruud, insisting that their showing as amateur mixed doubles players was more than admirable and the outcome was irrelevant—“it was simply a matter of bad luck against seasoned doubles experts.”

Looking back at this tense and thrilling mixed doubles final, Swiatek and Ruud’s performance certainly deserved all the praise, matching the defending champions Errani and Vavassori in every aspect.

After Errani and Vavassori defeated Collins and Harris to reach the final, their opening set against Swiatek and Ruud was just as they’d promised—playing for all other mixed doubles competitors. Their teamwork and determination were outstanding, making it clear they wouldn’t give up easily, which quickly put Swiatek and Ruud on the back foot from the very first set.

When the defending champions took the first set 6-3, many viewers in the livestream commented that the pair truly lived up to their reputation as doubles specialists and last year’s US Open mixed doubles champions, and that Swiatek and Ruud, as an amateur pairing, seemed a bit inexperienced against these legends.

Some pointed out that Errani and Vavassori each already have two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, so beating Swiatek and Ruud was just business as usual—had they lost, it would have been a major upset and headline news in New York.

How confident was the livestream audience in the defending champions? When predicting the outcome, most believed Errani and Vavassori would likely win in straight sets. This belief grew stronger when the Polish star and Norwegian ace found themselves on the defensive again in the second set, just like the first.

As Errani and Vavassori reached a 5-4 lead in the second set and served for the match, everyone thought Swiatek and Ruud were finished and waited for the decisive sweep to end the contest.

Yet, no one expected that the doubles experts Errani and Vavassori would falter under pressure at the crucial moment, just one step away from victory, allowing Swiatek and Ruud to break back and take the second set 7-5, leveling the overall score.

Witnessing this dramatic twist, some fans and netizens in the livestream wondered if Swiatek and Ruud, known for their comebacks, might pull off another miracle and snatch the million-dollar championship prize with a reversal.

This speculation was tied to their semifinal battle, where Swiatek and Ruud faced Pegula and Draper for a spot in the final.

The intensity of that semifinal was every bit as fierce as the final against Errani and Vavassori.

After splitting the first two sets, when Pegula and Draper led 8-4 in the match tiebreak, many believed that Swiatek and Ruud, facing such a deficit, couldn’t possibly turn things around—even with divine intervention.

But the duo stunned everyone by stringing together six consecutive points, delivering a “hidden bagel” to Pegula and Draper, and dramatically crossing the finish line to block their opponents from reaching the mixed doubles final.

Unfortunately, in the final tiebreak against Errani and Vavassori, the anticipated comeback didn’t materialize. The defending US Open mixed doubles champions relied on their superior doubles skills to dash Swiatek and Ruud’s hopes for the trophy, successfully defending their title.

After their win, Errani and Vavassori fulfilled their pre-match promise to “fight for other mixed doubles players,” increased their mixed doubles title count to three, and snatched the million-dollar prize from Swiatek and Ruud—over 7 million yuan—making the most of the wildcard granted by the US Open organizers.

Although Swiatek didn’t help Ruud win the US Open, leaving him with another runner-up finish at Flushing Meadows, her performance was praised by all, with many saying she truly is the strongest woman in tennis today.

After winning in Cincinnati against Paolini and quickly shifting to the US Open mixed doubles, Swiatek won two tough matches in 24 hours to reach the semifinals; she then came from behind to defeat top seeds Pegula and Draper, earning a shot at doubles experts Errani and Vavassori in the final—even her loss was seen as an honorable one.

Given such a packed schedule and high-intensity matches, Swiatek’s performance far exceeded expectations. For most players, reaching the mixed doubles final would be nearly impossible—many, like Alcaraz, might struggle to get past the first round.

Many believe Swiatek deserves the loudest applause, just like the champions, for another reason: she and Ruud are amateur doubles players who lost to the defending mixed doubles champions after three suspenseful sets, so there’s nothing to regret—“the Polish star truly deserves this little red flower!”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)