Czech stars Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik claimed the US Open mixed doubles title on Wednesday, defeating Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The victory gave Muchova and Mensik their first Grand Slam trophy as a team, after a thrilling contest that was decided by a 10-point match tiebreak.
Czech Pair Make Fast Start
Muchova and Mensik came out strongly in the opening set, with Mensik’s powerful serve proving difficult for their opponents to handle.
The 20-year-old Czech sealed the first set with an ace past Bencic on set point, giving the pair a 6-3 advantage in less than 30 minutes.
Bencic and Cobolli Fight Back
Bencic and Cobolli responded impressively in the second set.
Bencic produced a return winner to break serve and give the pair a 3-1 lead. She later helped level the match when her forehand clipped the net and bounced beyond Muchova.
The second set ended 6-1, forcing the championship to be decided by a match tiebreak.
Mensik Takes Control in Deciding Tiebreak
The Czech duo regained momentum in the deciding 10-point tiebreak, with Mensik’s powerful serving and aggressive play at the net making the difference.
He produced a firm volley to give Muchova and Mensik an 8-4 advantage before Muchova delivered one of her best serves of the match to create championship points.
Mensik then finished the contest in style with another ace, sparking celebrations as the pair secured the 10-6 victory.
Muchova and Mensik Survive Semifinal Thriller
The new champions had already shown their resilience in the semifinals, where they saved two match points against Russian pair Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev.
Their comeback earned them a place in the final and ultimately paved the way for their first Grand Slam title together.
Muchova Jokes About Matching Outfits
Muchova brought some humour to the trophy ceremony, joking that the pair’s matching maroon Adidas jackets had helped them win.
She admitted that she had not expected to be lifting the trophy, saying the duo had entered the event simply hoping to have fun and enjoy the mixed doubles competition.
The unexpected success has now given the Czech pair a memorable start to the US Open.
Star-Studded Mixed Doubles Format Returns
The 16-team mixed doubles competition is being staged for the second consecutive year under its revamped format.
The event features leading singles stars and is designed to attract larger crowds during the week before the US Open singles main draw.
This year’s field included several major names, with Novak Djokovic partnering Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz teaming up with Serena Williams.
First Grand Slam Trophy for the Czech Duo
The triumph marks a significant milestone for both Muchova and Mensik. Their combination of powerful serving, sharp net play and composure under pressure proved decisive in the final.
After an entertaining three-set battle, the Czech pair now leave Arthur Ashe Stadium as US Open mixed doubles champions.