Kristina Mladenovic, one of the great references of the circuit in doubles and triple champion of Grand Slam In the mixed modality, he has shown his outrage at the new tournament approach. In statements to Eurosport, The French player has criticized The approach.
A statements were made viral a New tennis (“When you hear about Alcaraz and others … it is shame“) that the player He confirmed later That were not like that, but what he said exactly was: “That all participants say they want to have fun to prepare for the US Open is shameful. A slam is not a preparation or a fun.”
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A controversy that remains in force
He US Open He has lit an intense debate in the world of tennis after announcing a deep transformation of his mixed doubles tournament. What until now was a traditional modality within the Grand Slams This year becomes an elite exhibition during the “US Open Fan Week”, The week prior to the official start of the main box. With a bag of one million dollars for the winning couple, a compressed format and the participation of illustrious names of the individual circuit as Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu, Novak Djokovic or Aryna Sabalenkathe tournament clearly points to the show. However, behind the brightness of the foci, many see a betrayal of this discipline.
The decision of US Open It implies that only 16 couples will participate: eight classified by individual combined ranking and another eight by direct invitation. The games, all played in the great stadiums of the New York complex, will play short four games, except for the final (to six), with Trebreak without advantage and Super Trebreak as third set. The event will be played on August 19 and 20, coinciding with the week in which the previous phases of the tournament are traditionally developed. The list of registered already announced has generated great expectation for the presence of media and unpublished couples. But for specialists, the new format is a flagrant exclusion.
Kristina Mladenoviceone of the great legends of the mixed doubles with nine Grand Slam titles – three of them in this modality – was one of the first to raise his voice: “From the commercial point of view, it is a brilliant idea. It guarantees the US OPEN a third week much more lucrative in entrances, consumption and television rights. But from the sports point of view, it is problematic because it plays the essence of tennis. A Grand Slam is history. And this is not. They do not call it Grand Slam”.
Mlaldovic, weighed in recent years due to a chronic injury, looks out of a tournament that for a long time was part of his competitive calendar. “No one consulted us, that is the most terrifying part. This is not an evolution, it is a unilateral decision that marginalizes those who have dedicated their career to double,” he adds bitterly.
The bottom of the matter, critics point out, is not only in the form of the event, but in the message it transmits: it is rewarded with millionaire figures to players who do not need it, while the true specialists of the circuit continue to fight to stay afloat. “From little we dreamed of winning a Grand Slam, even in double Mlaldonovic laments. Follow the controversy.
