ATP Tour

Mensik/Muchova: 'Matching outfits' key to US Open mixed doubles crown

Jakub Mensik and Karolina Muchova won the US Open mixed doubles title on Wednesday, capping a memorable run together in New York. The Czech duo overcame Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 in an engaging final.

“I think in the end, the matching outfits made the difference for us,” Muchova joked in the trophy ceremony, referring to the light pink and burgundy kits the pair wore. “I wasn’t really expecting to be standing here tonight. We came out just having fun and enjoyed this mixed doubles [event] and now we are standing here.”

After saving two match points in the semi-finals to escape Andrey Rublev and Mirra Andreeva, Mensik and Muchova returned to court and kept their momentum with aggressive net play. Both Mensik and Muchova held their nerve when serving under pressure in the Match Tie-break, delivering some of their best deliveries of the night when it mattered most.

Mensik fired an ace past Bencic to clinch the title on the Czechs' third championship point. The 20-year-old leaped in the air with excitement while Muchova raised her arms.

Their Flushing Meadows victory marks the first time Mensik and Muchova have won a major trophy.

“It’s my first time standing here,” said Mensik. “I didn’t expect this before the tournament, but it’s such great fun. It was amazing to play and start the US Open like that.”

In a mixed doubles draw that featured superstars such as Novak Djokovic partnering Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz playing alongside Serena Williams, Mensik and Muchova were the team to beat. They needed a Match Tie-break in three of their four wins.

This is just the beginning of the American Slam for Mensik and Muchova, who both will have high aspirations in singles. Mensik is the No. 18 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, while this year's Wimbledon finalist Muchova is No. 7 in the PIF WTA Rankings.