"I kind of like characters": Andy Roddick backs Reilly Opelka's criticism of authorities over restructuring of doubles event at US Open

Former world number one Andy Roddick has backed countryman Reilly Opelka’s comments about the restructuring of the doubles event at the US Open. The fourth and final Grand Slam of the year in 2025 will have a new format for the mixed doubles competition.

This year, the tournament will feature 16 teams in the mixed doubles, which is exactly half of what the tournament had last year. That’s not it, as the matches will now be organised in three sets with four games each, and the tiebreak will be of 10 points. Only the final will consist of three sets, and six games will be played between players. That’s not it as the competition will be held during the fan week.

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Opelka, who was once regarded as the next big thing, has already spoken about the issue. He recently took a dig at the authorities and asked them to get rid of the doubles event completely. "They should get rid of doubles 100%," he said recently. " That's for singles players who have failed, there's no such thing as a 'doubles specialist'... they don't sell a single ticket, they take up practice courts, physios and resources, they don't make a profit and they complain about not making enough money. It's pretty greedy behaviour if you ask me. The best solution would be to reduce the doubles draw to 8 teams and only allow singles players to enter. Or... just get rid of it."

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Former world number one Roddick has recently quoted in a report where he backed Opelka’s criticism of the authorities about their dealing of the doubles event. “Reilly Opelka love him or hate him, you rarely have to wonder what he is thinking and he is certainly not scared to tell you what he is thinking,” he said while speaking on his podcast. “So regardless of whether you agree with his opinion, I kind of like characters like Reilly who will just say what they think. I disagree with him on some of the stuff he says but you don’t have to wonder what he is thinking.”

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