The US Open mixed doubles tournament has been one of the most talked-about events in tennis in 2025, but the coach of new Wimbledon doubles champion Julian Cash has suggested the winner’s of next month’s glitzy event at Flushing Meadows next month should not be hailed as Grand Slam champions.
A host of big-name stars have been announced as participants in a new-look mixed doubles competition that will be contested over short four game sets, with a deciding point at deuce and a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a third set.
Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz were one of the eye-catching pairings announced for an event that is also due to see new Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner team up with America’s Emma Navarro and Novak Djokovic play with Olga Danilovic.
It has all the hallmarks of a lucrative exhibition event, with $1m set to be handed to the winning team in New York.
The spectacle would be spectacular if all those big names took to the court, but respected coach Barry Fulcher has predicted there will be plenty of withdrawals prior to the tournament that he believes should not have the status of a Grand Slam event.
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Players like Cash and his Wimbledon doubles partner Lloyd Glasspool have not been invited to play in the event, with doubles players missing out on a payday in New York as the star names have been invited to take part instead.
“This exhibition event will be great fun, but it is not a Grand Slam and it shouldn’t be viewed as such,” Fulcher told Tennis365.
“It’s not just about the prize money and more about removing a mixed doubles Grand Slam opportunity.
“My own personal view, it is all just posturing at the moment and I will be fascinated to see how many of those 16 pairings that were announced a few weeks ago will turn up and play.
“I’d be very, very surprised if a lot of those pairs end up taking to the court and the only reason they would release that list is to get everyone talking about it.
“It’s almost like they have put their names down, but there is no obligation to play.
“For me, the best doubles pairing on that list they released is Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori and it will be interesting to see if some doubles players who end up playing if the singles players drop out.
“I’m a fan of innovation and trying to bring new things into tennis, but I don’t agree with calling it a Grand Slam event.”
Coach Barry Fulcher with Wimbledon double champions Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash
Fulcher went on to reflect on his magical few days with Cash at Wimbledon, as the British duo saved three match points in their quarter-final match and went on to realise their dreams of lifting the Wimbledon title.
“It was the best moment of my coaching career so far,” added Fulcher. “The pride of coaching someone for that long and then having that moment was just wonderful.
“So many start out with ambitions to win a title at Wimbledon. You speak to the kids, speak to parents and they all say that, but doing it is very different.
“When I first met Julian, he was 14 and he duffed me up in a practice set before I coached him, so to see him fulfil his ambition is so rewarding.
“He is a good human being. He has good solid values, a great family around him.
“Some people in tennis lose sight of those values. They live a certain life, they get treated very well and they forget about the values that got them there.
“Seeing the absolute elation on Julian’s face at the moment when they won was just brilliant to see. I’ve looked back on the replays of it since and you can just see what that moment meant to him.”
Fulcher is preparing to stage his latest tennis event, with the Trilogy Rackets Festival bringing a week-long celebration of racket sports at Hove Beach Park By Game4Padel.
A mix of tennis, padel and pickleball events are open to enter, with Judy Murray set to present the prizes on the finals Sunday.
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