Karolina Muchová and Jakub Mensík, the Czech partnership, captured the US Open mixed‑doubles crown on Wednesday night, earning the tournament's $1 million top prize after a decisive 6‑3, 1‑6, [10‑6] victory over Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli. Their path to the final was anything but straightforward; the duo overcame a 3‑0, 8‑5 deficit and saved two match points in a nail‑biting semifinal against Russia’s Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, edging them out 5‑4 (8‑6), 3‑5, [11‑9] to earn their spot in the championship match.
The all‑Czech team entered the final in matching pink‑top, maroon‑bottom attire, a visual cue they later joked helped them clinch the title. "The matching outfit made the difference for us," Muchová quipped, recalling her recent heartbreak in the Wimbledon women’s final where she fell to Linda Nosková in three sets.
"No, really, I wasn’t expecting to be standing here. Thanks, Jakub, for carrying me through this event.
We came out just to have fun and enjoy mixed doubles, and now we’re standing here. So we did something right." Muchová added, "I think this is a really good start to the US Open for all of us," underscoring the confidence the win should give the pair as they head into the remainder of the tournament. The championship match began at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium with Mensík’s powerful serve setting the tone.
He delivered an ace on set point that sealed the opening set in under thirty minutes, giving the Czechs an early lead. Bencic responded in the second set, breaking Muchová’s serve to go up 3‑1 and later leveling the set when a forehand clipped the net cord and ricocheted past her opponent. However, the decisive ten‑point match tiebreak swung back in Czech favor. Mensík’s thunderous serve and aggressive net play allowed the pair to build an 8‑4 lead, and Muchová followed with her strongest serve of the night, pushing the score to championship points.
Mensík capped the triumph with a blistering 131‑mph ace, leaping in celebration as the first Grand Slam title of the season was secured. Beyond the final, Muchová and Mensík’s campaign featured victories over several high‑profile teams.
In the opening round they dispatched Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arévalo, while the quarter‑finals saw them overcome Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul. Their semifinal win over Andreeva and Rublev was particularly dramatic, as they rallied from a sizable deficit and survived two match points, showcasing their resilience and teamwork under pressure. Bencic and Cobolli, the runners‑up, had their own impressive run.
They eliminated the husband‑wife duo of Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina in a tight 4‑5 (7‑9), 4‑1 [10‑5] semifinal, and earlier in the tournament they had shocked the field by ousting legends Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter‑finals. For Bencic, the appearance marked her first senior‑level Grand Slam final, a milestone she described as a result of playing bravely and enjoying the moment: "I think we just tried to play more brave.
We just really tried to enjoy and believe." The mixed‑doubles draw this year featured 16 teams and introduced a revamped format designed to attract larger audiences in the week preceding the singles main draw. Matches were shortened, with sets played to four games and decisive third sets replaced by ten‑point tiebreakers, creating fast‑paced, high‑energy contests without commercial interruptions.
This new structure aimed to showcase top singles players in mixed‑doubles action, offering fans a fresh viewing experience. The US Open’s mixed‑doubles competition, now broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, also offers streaming options through the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app, allowing tennis enthusiasts to watch without a contract. Fans can also catch the upcoming Laver Cup at London’s O₂ Arena from 25‑27 September via Sky Sports.
Overall, the Czech pair’s victory not only delivered a substantial financial reward but also highlighted the growing appeal of mixed‑doubles tennis, where strategic partnerships and on‑court chemistry can produce thrilling, unpredictable outcomes. Their triumph serves as a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and the joy of competition, setting a high bar for future editions of the event.