Alex De Minaur and Katie Boulter drop doubles update as US Open cops fresh backlash to brutal rule change

Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter are hoping to once again reunite on court putting their names on the mixed doubles entry list at the US Open, but backlash remains over the drastic format change. De Minaur and Boulter last officially teamed-up on the court at Wimbledon in 2023.

While they have come up against each other in team events, at the United Cup, the engaged couple have hinted they would be open to playing as a pair again. And the change of format at the US Open has granted them an opportunity to stand on the same side of the net against some of the best players in the sport.

Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter (pictured right) have entered the new format of the US Open mixed doubles tournament, but the grand slam is copping backlash after the change. (Images: Getty Images)

In an attempt to shine more attention on mixed doubles, the competition will now take place during the fan week (one week before the tournament proper) and each match will be shortened. The matches will remain best of three sets, but only played to four games instead of six. The third set will be a super tiebreak.

In a huge incentive for the singles players to enter the 2025 winners will pocket $1 million ($A1.6m) in a huge boost. But controversially the draw will now feature 16 pairs, which is half that of 2024. Eight pairs will earn direct entry via their combined singles ranking, while the other eight will be wildcard entries. 

Katie Boulter and Alex De Minaur (pictured) last officially played doubles together at Wimbledon in 2023.

Th US Open wants to draw in higher-ranked singles players to compete in the tournament. And this is exactly what has taken place. Not only have the likes of de Minaur and Boulter entered, but World No.1s Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams have all entered in their own separate pairs.

Last month, Boulter hinted herself and de Minaur needed to talk about entering the revamped US Open competition. The duo have joined a list of superstars in the competition, which has delighted many fans in what will certainly grab the attention of tennis supporters a week earlier than expected. This is a huge win for the US Open.

Although the move has drawn plenty of criticism from fans and former players. Last year's winners Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori have been included in the list. However, 25 teams have entered. The top eight teams with their combined rankings will have automatic selection. De Minaur and Boulter have a combined ranking of 53.

This will see them miss out on automatic entry. Some other big names of the sport will also miss out on selection in the eight wildcard entries, but it also hasn't been confirmed 2024 winners Errani and Vavassori will be included in the 16.

Katie Boulter (pictured right) and Alex De Minaur (pictured left) have put forwards their names to play in the mixed doubles at the US Open.

And while fans are hoping de Minaur and Boulter are selected, they will be battling it out against the likes of Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios for one of eight places in the wildcard draw. Although not everyone feels the new format is good for tennis.

The rule changes have been criticised with dedicated doubles and mixed doubles players no longer having another avenue of playing in a grand slam and earning money. Many of the lower ranked players were getting by on the tour thanks to entering mixed doubles competitions and earning money. Grand slams are the highest paying tournaments for these players.

The US Open halving the number of pairs and favouring singles rankings has all but ended any chance of lower ranked tennis players earning money at Flushing Meadows. This has seen the tournament face backlash to their decision, which goes against tennis tradition.

Another player who was left dumbfounded at the announcement earlier this year is Aussie mixed doubles player Ellen Perez. The Aussie is World No.17 in doubles, but currently unranked in singles. 

The 29-year-old joined the chorus of players unleashing on the rule changes having suggested the US Open has disrespected the tradition of tennis. As it stands, Perez will not play the US Open mixed tournament because of change in format.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/alex-de-minaur-and-katie-boulter-in-exciting-update-as-us-open-cops-fresh-backlash-to-brutal-rule-change-004759057.html

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