Mixed Doubles Deserves the Main Stage and It's Criminal That It Doesn't

Mixed doubles in tennis is faster, more tactical, more entertaining, and more genuinely equal than any other format the sport offers. It features the best male and female players competing together, creates unique tactical dynamics, and produces some of the most exciting tennis you'll ever see. So why does it get treated like an afterthought?

At Grand Slams, mixed doubles matches are typically scheduled on outer courts during off-peak hours. They receive minimal broadcast coverage, limited commentary, and are often squeezed into the schedule wherever there's space. The message from tournament organizers is clear: mixed doubles doesn't matter enough to deserve prime time, main court, or proper promotion.

Mixed doubles offers what tennis increasingly lacks: variety, unpredictability, and genuine entertainment. The interaction between different playing styles, the tactical complexity of targeting specific opponents, and the chemistry between partners create a viewing experience that's arguably more engaging than singles. Yet the format receives a fraction of the attention and investment.

With proper investment, mixed doubles could become a major draw:

In a sport that champions gender equality, the treatment of mixed doubles is hypocritical. Here's the one format that literally embodies equality — men and women competing as partners on equal terms — and tennis can't be bothered to promote it properly. The sport's commitment to equality apparently ends where the scheduling meetings begin.