By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty
NEW YORK—Opposites attract, but compatible competitors are creating US Open success.
Partnering for the first Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud permitted just six games in two tournament wins to reach the newly reimagined US Open Mixed Doubles semifinals. Swiatek and Ruud rolled Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe 4-1, 4-2 then beat wild cards Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti by the same sore to reach tonight’s semifinals.
Empowered by her run to her maiden Cincinnati Open title on Monday night, Swiatek credited the “perfect” pairing with Ruud for their quick success in the shortened Mixed Doubles format.
“I already could see Casper’s game courtside on some XOs. It was great,” Swiatek said. “I always loved his forehand. I think if I would be a guy, I would play kind of the same way as he does. So yeah, for me it makes sense.
“What he does with his spin is just amazing. Today I could see some shots like that. So yeah, I’m happy that he asked me.”
Both the 2022 US Open champion Swiatek and 2022 US Open finalist Ruud play heavy topspin forehands, both grew up looking up to King of Clay Rafa Nadal, both have trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy and both are quick around the court.
“We fit well as a team. I’m really impressed with Iga, the way she handles the
men’s ball especially,” Ruud said. “She can return the guys’ serve. From the baseline she can rally with anyone. That’s both our strongest sides, I would say.
“We played to the strongest sides of our own game. We had good chemistry from the first point. I think that’s also important in doubles. Yeah, we won some really close games when we needed
to, played some good tennis.”
They will try to sustain the roll facing top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper in tonight’s semifinals. The winner will meet either reigning US Open Mixed Doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori or American wild cards Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison in the final.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Swiatek points to one other important factor—fun—as a reason their mixed partnership works.
“For me I think it’s a reminder that tennis should be fun. Obviously when we’re just preparing
for the singles, there’s a lot of pressure and expectations on us,” said Swiatek, who did not drop a set winning Cincinnati. “When we also have opportunity to step out on the court and feel this positive energy and just have fun, I think, yeah, it’s a good reminder of that.
“Also nice to just spend time on the center court. There’s not always a lot of that because so many players want to practice, that you only get one hour. Yeah, we can be there, soak in the atmosphere. I think it’s great. I think also for the fans, it’s super entertaining, makes tennis more fun, yeah.”
