Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani etched their names in tennis history by capturing the US Open mixed doubles title on Thursday, a triumph that capped a remarkable year for Italian tennis. The No. 3 seeds overcame the spirited challenge of unseeded Americans Donald Young and Taylor Townsend in straight sets, 7-6 (0), 7-5, in a thrilling encounter that lasted an hour and 30 minutes.
For Errani, a five-time women’s doubles champion, this victory marked her maiden mixed doubles Grand Slam title. Vavassori, on the other hand, celebrated his first-ever Grand Slam triumph. The victory was a testament to the Italians’ exceptional doubles prowess, having previously reached the finals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2024.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” Vavassori exclaimed during the trophy ceremony. “Being with Sara, an amazing person and player, is an honor. I’ve always admired her career, and it’s been incredible to play alongside her at Wimbledon and the Olympics this year.”
Errani echoed Vavassori’s sentiments, expressing her pride in Italy’s recent tennis achievements. “It’s an incredible year for me and for Italy,” she said. “Jannik (Sinner) winning the Australian Open, Jasmine (Paolini) reaching the finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Simone (Bolelli) and Andrea (Vavassori) in the Australian and French Open doubles finals, and Jasmine and I winning Olympic gold in Paris. It’s a special moment for our country.”
While the Italians celebrated their triumph, the Americans were left to reflect on a bittersweet ending. Young, who announced his retirement from professional tennis after the match, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to compete at the US Open one last time. “I can’t think of a better place to go out,” he said. “I’ve watched matches here as a kid and played with someone I’ve known my whole life.”
Townsend, a close friend of Young, acknowledged the significance of their journey together. “Standing here today with Donald means the world to me,” she said. “He’s been in my life forever. I don’t know if I’d be here today if it wasn’t for him and his family.”
Despite falling short of the title, Townsend emphasized the importance of representation for young athletes of color. “This isn’t the trophy that we wanted,” she said. “But at the end of the day, I’m the only Black woman left in the tournament. I hope that Donald and I standing here today, Frances (Tiafoe) in the semifinals, and Coco (Gauff) being the defending champion, shows people that look like us that it’s possible.”
