Murray and Mattek-Sands believe mixed doubles is undervalued

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray, who won the mixed doubles at the US Open, say the event is undervalued in tennis.

The relatively low profile of mixed doubles and doubles is reflected in the prize money, with the mixed champions splitting $160,000, while the doubles champions get $740,000 dollars. The singles champions get more than $3 million.

“To me, mixed doubles is an undervalued tennis product,” Mattek-Sands  said. “You have guys and girls playing on the same level, no handicaps. The guys aren't feeling bad for the girls. The girls pick on the guys. It's generally amazing tennis. We have great points. Guys and girls together, not too many sports say they do that."

The WTA veteran, who plays singles, doubles and mixed, would also like the mixed doubles and doubles to get more promotion.

"There's a lot of club players, especially in the U.S., that can relate to playing doubles and mixed doubles. I'm all for obviously upping the prize money, but I think even the awareness," she said. "It's exciting tennis. If more people knew about it, followed the teams, they would really enjoy watching mixed doubles and doubles.”

Mattek-Sands has won five mixed doubles titles at the Grand Slams. She also has won a ton of doubles titles, including the US Open, the Australian Open, and the French Open.

The 33-year-old Murray has won 23 doubles titles, including at the Australian Open and the US Open. And he has won five mixed doubles titles, including his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, and also at the US Open. He also says the attention on doubles could be improved.

“I think doubles is kind of the bedrock of the amateur game,” Murray said. “It's a huge part of our sport. It definitely has the potential to offer greater value to these tournaments than perhaps it currently is or currently allowed to [have].”

It is the pair's second consecutive mixed doubles title at the US Open, and Murray's third following his 2017 victory with Martina Hingis.