Watching some of the great singles players in mixed doubles ahead of the US Open main singles draws was an unprecedented treat.
Perhaps Wednesday’s best point came when Emma Raducanu somehow tracked down a thunderous overhead from Jack Draper -- and Carlos Alcaraz eventually finished with an improbable around-the-net winner.
But more than anything, the results of the first day before big, supportive crowds in Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums underlined just how special those “doubles specialists” are.
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori look like the favorites heading into Thursday night’s semifinals and finals. Maybe it’s because they are the most fluent team, the only pure doubles specialists in the field -- as well as the defending US Open mixed champions and winners of the title earlier this year at Roland Garros.
“Tactics in doubles are very important,” Vavassori said. “There are many very strong players here, but we often play together, we also talk off the court, and this is important.
“We also play for all the doubles players who cannot compete at the mixed doubles tournament here. We try to do our best.”
In 12 matches, four went to a second-set tiebreak -- but not one went to a third set.
The Thursday semifinals and finals are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET.
Round of 16
No. 1 Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper def. Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu 4-2, 4-2
The skinny: The 50-minute match was decided by superior net play, from both Draper and Pegula -- who has played the doubles quarterfinals at all four majors. They won 24 of 34 service points and were not broken. They converted their fifth match point on Pegula’s serve with a winner from Draper.
No. 3 Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud def. Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe, 4-1, 4-2
The skinny: Swiatek looked fresh, considering she stepped off the court in Cincinnati 16 hours earlier. She and Ruud needed only 39 minutes to dispatch the Americans, who had five double faults and were broken twice.
Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev def. Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic, 4-2, 5-3
The skinny: Danilovic and Djokovic were up 3-1 in the second set before the winners came back to take the last four games. The winners saved two of three break points and hit a combined 10 winners, against only six unforced errors.
Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti def. Naomi Osaka
and Gael Monfils 5-3, 4-2
The skinny: There were some awkward moments -- Musetti, aggressively running down a lob, almost knocked McNally off her feet -- but the makeshift team prevailed comfortably. When Paolini withdrew, McNally stepped in to become Musetti’s partner.
Quarterfinals
Pegula and Draper def. Andreeva and Medvedev, 4-1, 4-1
The skinny: This was the most one-sided of Wednesday’s matches, with the winners taking 36 of 62 points. They forged 10 break-point opportunities and converted three.
No. 3 Swiatek and Ruud def. McNally and Musetti, 4-1, 4-2
The skinny: This one required only 46 minutes, while the winners saved both break opportunities against them. “Even though we haven’t played together, we had good communication on the court,” Swiatek said in her on-court interview.
Wednesday's semifinals: Pegula and Draper vs. Swiatek and Ruud
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