US Open star speaks out after Jannik Sinner decision forced her out of tournament

Decorated doubles star Katerina Siniakova has spoken out after she was forced to miss the US Open's new mixed doubles event. Currently ranked at No. 2 in the WTA doubles rankings, Siniakova has 11 Grand Slam titles in women's and mixed doubles, and two Olympic gold medals.

But she only managed to get a spot in the US Open mixed draw when she teamed up with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, whose initial partner had withdrawn from the tournament. She never managed to play, however, as Sinner pulled out with an illness the day before the tournament got underway, meaning Siniakova was not able to find a new player to team up with.

This year's revamped mixed doubles competition in Flushing Meadows saw just 16 teams face off across two days, with £714k ($1million) on the line for the champions. Players could only enter the tournament based on singles rankings.

Eight teams earned a spot in the draw on their combined singles ranking, and there were eight wildcards up for grabs. But only one doubles specialist team - defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori - received one.

Siniakova initially entered with then-ATP No. 1 in doubles, Marcelo Arevalo, but they didn't receive a wildcard, or have singles rankings high enough to get in. There was a silver lining when she paired up with Sinner, but their partnership never materialised because the Italian got ill in Cincinnati and pulled out of mixed doubles.

Until the draw was made, players were able to find new partners to team up with, but Sinner's withdrawal came so late that Siniakova did not get to play at all. Instead, alternates Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison got in.

Former world No. 1 Siniakova has now broken her silence on the whole experience, telling Tenisovy svet: "Unfortunately, I expected it to be like that.

"The rule is that once it's drawn, you can't pair up with anyone else. That's how it is normally in doubles. It just wasn't possible."

Siniakova was also surprised to see Collins and Harrison get in as first alternates. Collins is currently ranked at No. 61 in the world, while Harrison is unranked in singles but sits at No. 17 in doubles.

"I was also curious how those two got there as the first alternates, when the rankings were supposed to be based on singles," the Czech star said.

"I think they changed it as they needed to. It was clear to me that they would put Americans there."

For all of the changes the US Open made, and all of the excitement surrounding blockbuster partnerships like Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz, it was doubles specialists Errani and Vavassori who defended their crown.

Now, Siniakova wants to see some tweaks made to the new format. She added: "For me, it would be more interesting if they at least combined singles players with doubles players. Even the format of someone winning a Grand Slam trophy in two days is not fair."

The world No. 2 will now turn her attention to her women's doubles campaign. Siniakova has been playing with American star Taylor Townsend - the current world No. 1 - and they've already won two Grand Slam titles together.

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