Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori weren't even sure they would get to defend their US Open mixed doubles title. Organizers revamped the tournament because they wanted singles superstars, not doubles specialists.

Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula wear dejected expressions after their loss to Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in the semifinals of the U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament at Arthur

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori retained their mixed doubles title at the U.S. Open on Wednesday, overcoming Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3 5-7 10-6 in the competition's reimagined format that drew some of the top singles players.

The winning duo will take home a $1 million prize, which is higher than most prize purses for mixed doubles major tournaments. The 16 teams will play over two days. The first round and quarterfinals take place on Tuesday inside the main show courts at the USTA National Tennis Center. The semifinals and championship match will be on Wednesday night.

The much-talked-about pairing of Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz fell to an early exit in the US Open’s mixed doubles competition on Tuesday, losing their first-round match and failing to win a set.

Grand Slam singles champions such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys will be playing for extra money — $1 million to the winning duo — and trying to get their hands on a trophy in the U.

Some of the biggest stars in men's and women's tennis took the court together at the US Open for reimagined mixed doubles competition.

Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori defeated Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in an exciting match tiebreak to successfully defend their U.S. Open mixed doubles title, claiming the $1 million prize Wednesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens,