The US Open has been accused of trying to make “more money” with their latest schedule change.

The mixed doubles event will get a radical overhaul in 2025, taking place the week before the other main draws and clashing with singles qualifying.

Entry will depend on singles rankings and wildcards, and doubles players understandably aren’t happy. Andy Murray’s former coach has even branded the mixed doubles tournament an “exhibition.”

Following days of rumours and reports, it has been confirmed that the US Open will drastically revamp the mixed doubles competition this year. The tournament will now be staged over two days during the qualifying week.

The scoring system has been altered to best-of-three sets with a fast-four format, meaning each set is first to four games with a tiebreak at 4-4. If a match goes to a final set, it will be a first-to-10-point match tiebreak.

The prize money has also been boosted to £809k ($1m), up from £162k ($200k), and both the semi-finals and finals will get a primetime showing in America on ESPN2.

But the changes have caused a stir as there will be just 16 teams, down from 32. Eight pairs will be entered into the draw based on their singles rankings, and the other eight will be awarded wildcards.

It means doubles rankings will be irrelevant, and some players have already slammed organisers for shutting them out. “Terribly shocking news!” three-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion Kristina Mladenovic tweeted.

“Doing that just to sell more money during first week of the event. Making it look like an exhibition for whoever wants to play!

“What about players playing singles Q that want/could with their doubles ranking play mixed?”

A world No. 26 in doubles, Mladenovic has no problem getting into the biggest events for women’s and mixed doubles. But she currently sits at No. 199 in the singles standings and often has to qualify for singles at Grand Slams.

The Frenchwoman isn’t the only player who is unimpressed. British doubles star Jonny O’Mara, who previously coached Murray, also accused US Open bosses of turning the event into an exhibition.

He wrote: “So just an exhibition? Feels tough on the dubs players this one. A top 10 dubs player needs a wc to play on the Tuesday and then starts mens dubs 10 days later.”

As it stands, reigning champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani wouldn’t get into the draw. Vavassori is a world No. 7 in doubles but outside the world’s top 200 in singles, while Errani is No. 10 in doubles and No. 117 in singles.

However, organisers are already expecting to have two top-10 singles players competing in Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz.