Karolina Muchová and Jakub Mensek, the Czech partnership, captured the US Open mixed‑doubles crown on Wednesday night, walking away with the tournament's $1 million prize purse. Their triumph came after a hard‑fought final in which they overcame Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, winning 6‑3, 1‑6, [10‑6] in the decisive match‑tie‑break. The road to the championship was anything but straightforward for the Czechs.
In the semifinals they faced the youthful Russian duo of Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev. After falling behind 0‑3 in the first set and later trailing 5‑8, Muchová and Mensek staged a dramatic comeback, saving two match points and eventually prevailing 5‑4 (8‑6), 3‑5, [11‑9] to secure their spot in the final. Their resilience under pressure became a hallmark of their tournament run.
Sporting matching pink‑top, maroon‑bottom uniforms, the pair added a visual flair to their on‑court chemistry. Muchová later joked that the coordinated outfits gave them an edge, but she quickly clarified that the victory was rooted in hard work and teamwork.
"I wasn’t really expecting to be standing here tonight. We came out just to have fun and enjoy mixed doubles, and now we’re here," she said, crediting Mensek for his support throughout the event. The final itself began with a blistering start for the Czechs on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Mensek, whose serve consistently hit high speeds, delivered an ace on set point that sealed the opening set in under 30 minutes. Bencic answered in the second set, breaking serve to lead 3‑1 and later equalising the match when a forehand clipped the net cord and rolled past Muchová. However, the decisive ten‑point match‑tie‑break saw Mensek’s powerful serving and aggressive net play dominate.
He opened an 8‑4 lead with a crisp volley, and Muchová followed with her strongest serve of the tournament, giving the pair championship points. Mensek capped the victory with a 131‑mph ace, leaping in celebration as the trophy was presented. Beyond the final, Muchová and Mensek’s campaign featured several notable wins.
In the opening round they defeated the experienced pair of Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arévalo, and in the quarter‑finals they overcame Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul. Their semifinal victory over Andreeva and Rublev was particularly memorable, as they rallied from a set and a half down and survived two match points, showcasing mental toughness that would become crucial in the final.
Bencic and Cobolli, the runners‑up, had also enjoyed a remarkable tournament. They had previously eliminated a husband‑and‑wife team, Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina, in a tight 4‑5 (7‑9), 4‑1 [10‑5] encounter to reach the final. Earlier, the Swiss‑Italian duo had stunned the crowd by ousting legends Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter‑finals, marking a rare double‑upset. For Bencic, the final represented her first Grand Slam final appearance at senior level, and she reflected on the experience with humility: "We tried to play more bravely, to enjoy the moment and believe in ourselves." The 2024 mixed‑doubles draw featured 16 star‑studded teams and was introduced as part of the US Open’s revamped format, designed to showcase top singles players in mixed doubles and attract larger audiences during the week preceding the main singles draw.
The new structure shortened sets to four games, eliminated ads, and used a ten‑point tie‑breaker for the deciding set, creating faster, more spectator‑friendly matches. The Czech victory is a significant milestone for both players. Muchová, who suffered a heartbreaking three‑set loss to Linda Nosková in the Wimbledon final just a month earlier, now adds a Grand Slam mixed‑doubles title to her résumé. Mensek, at just 20 years old, demonstrated that his powerful serve and net instincts can compete at the highest level, positioning him as a rising star in both doubles and singles competition.
The US Open, broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, continues to offer fans multiple ways to watch. Viewers can stream matches contract‑free via the NOW platform or the Sky Sports app, ensuring that the excitement of mixed doubles—and the broader tournament—remains accessible worldwide. The mixed‑doubles event, with its blend of high‑energy play, celebrity pairings, and dramatic tie‑breaks, has quickly become a fan favourite, promising even more thrilling moments in the years to come.