Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori retain title

Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori retained their US Open mixed doubles title on Wednesday, beating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7, 10-6 in the final of a controversial new-look competition that kicked off action at the last Grand Slam of the year.

The Italians pocketed the increased $1 million first prize after two days of intense work in the 16-team event held for the first time outside the dates of the main tournament, in which singles action begins on Sunday.

The compact format and beefed-up prize money drew a slew of singles stars like six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek, but also fierce criticism from some, most notably Errani and Vavassori.

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Errani and Vavassori described the changes before the tournament as a “profound injustice”, though they were given a wildcard to defend their title.

In victory, they offered some thinly-veiled remarks that appeared to be aimed at the changes.

“This is for all the doubles players who couldn’t play this tournament,” Errani said.

Vavassori added: “We have been on a mission.”

Doubles legend Kristina Mladenovic said it was “embarrassing” to hear the way players would say they are “going to have fun” playing the event as preparation for the singles draw.

“A grand slam is neither preparation nor fun,” she told Eurosport. “It’s years of sacrifice. When you’re young, you dream of winning one, even in doubles.”

Wimbledon and Australian Open mixed doubles champion Jan Zielinski said before the event that there had been “no communication with players” about the change.

Meanwhile, Swiatek, the world number three from Poland, battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open on Monday then hot-footed it to New York to team up with Norway’s Ruud in the revamped mixed doubles competition.

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Carlos Alcaraz, men’s champion in Cincinnati, also turned out but he and British playing partner Emma Raducanu were eliminated on Tuesday, as was superstar Novak Djokovic, who teamed with fellow Serb Olga Danilovic.

The chemistry between Italians Errani and Vavassori, cultivated over a two-year on-court partnership that also saw them win the French Open mixed doubles title this year, proved decisive.

They roared to a 4-1 lead in the opening set of the championship match and after Swiatek and Ruud regained one break closed it on a confident hold from Vavassori.

Down a break at 4-5 in the second, Swiatek and Ruud won three straight games to force the 10-point match tiebreaker in which Errani and Vavassori grabbed a 4-0 lead and held on to triumph.

The first three rounds -- including the semi-finals on Wednesday night -- were played with short sets to four games with no-advantage scoring and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set, before the final reverted to traditional sets with a 10-point match tiebreak.

Swiatek and Ruud clawed their way past top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper with a 3-5, 5-3, 10-8 semi-final victory.

Errani and Vavassori romped past the American duo Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison 4-2, 4-2 to reach the final.

Vavassori admitted he and Errani were on a “mission” to prove themselves against the singles stars.

Errani said after their 44-minute semi-final triumph that playing in front of a packed house under the lights on the massive Arthur Ashe Stadium Court was “amazing.”

“It’s the court where I feel goosebumps every time here,” she said.

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