First of all, the notoriously least-watched discipline, Mixed Doubles, already happened! They held that competition last week, (which I\u2019ll explain in a minute,) because they changed it up quite a bit this year. (That\u2019s how I knew that the Singles began yesterday\u2014I had advance notice to watch the Mixed Doubles, and the commentators kept apprising the viewers of this<\/em> schedule change.)<\/p>\n The poster says it all.<\/p><\/div>\n So I\u2019m discussing that situation first.<\/p>\n Instead of the contests being vied for by unfamiliar<\/em> duos who always play the Mixed Doubles on tour, this year the US Open went with teams comprised mainly of the singles<\/em>\u00a0stars<\/em> of the sport, such as Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz<\/strong>, (for whom I rooted.) [Note: It\u2019s a shame that Grigor Dmitrov<\/strong> had to withdraw due to still dealing with the pec injury he suffered at Wimbledon last month. He was set to team up with the #1 girl, Aryna Sabalenka<\/strong>, and I would have loved to see those two ferocities play together.]<\/p>\n Mixed Doubles Champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani. As I say about Mr. X, so Italian, so intense!<\/p><\/div>\n The organizers wanted those stars in the competition in the hopes of drumming up viewers and ticket buyers, and they accomplished just that. So, in order to encourage those players, the Mixed Doubles had to be contested a week earlier than even the start<\/em> of the entire tournament because the players who hope to go far in the Singles would never agree to play Doubles while they were still vying for Singles titles!<\/p>\n The new format was definitely interesting, but it was a hard one for me because I feel so awful for the usual<\/em> doubles teams, who are more often than not made-up of players of whom the casual fan is unaware, who count on playing it. They\u2019d love a title, and they need the money, too, as little as it is. So those people were totally screwed by this new format, even though the audience loved it.<\/p>\n But, to the usual doubles teams’ credit, one of them, Italians Sara Errani and *Andrea Vavassori<\/strong>, who were the defending Champions, won it again! And against very formidable star opponents, six-time Major Champion, Iga Swiatek<\/strong> and three-time Major Finalist, Casper Ruud<\/strong>. I like Iga and Casper, and were happy for them to do well, but I was appalled that they were talking to each other right behind the winners while Sara and Andrea were giving their Champions speeches! (In Iga and Casper\u2019s defense, they don\u2019t usually play any kind of doubles, so they\u2019re not used to having a teammate with whom to go over the proceedings. So I have a feeling they didn\u2019t even realize how rude they were being. But they should have known better, just as people<\/em>!) *[Note: \u201cAndrea\u201d is a guy\u2019s<\/em> name in Italy.]<\/p>\n Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, (in the middle,) rudely talking to each other while Mixed Doubles Champion Sara Errani, (far right,) was trying to thank her partner, Andrea Vavassori, (on the far left.) Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Now, as far as the Singles competitions go, the big disappointment for me is that Italian Stallion, Matteo Berrettini<\/strong>, also had to withdraw due to injury. I get to see his stunning visage only twice a year, during Wimbledon and the US Open; Wimbledon totally screwed me this year by not showing him even once, and now this. C\u2019mon, tennis gods\u2014give a girl a break here! (But I had forgotten how good-looking Matteo\u2019s countryman, Lorenzo Musetti<\/strong>, is! So at least I have him<\/em> to look at. We\u2019ll see for how long, though.)<\/p>\n Canadian Open Champion Victoria Mboko and runner-up Naomi Osaka.<\/p><\/div>\n And this year I have someone whom I\u2019m actually rooting against perhaps even more than Novak Djokovic<\/strong>! Yes, you read that correctly\u2014even more than Novak. And it is\u2014drumroll, please\u2014Naomi Osaka<\/strong>. I\u2019ve never really been a fan, (but I was thrilled when she beat Serena Williams here way back in 2018,) but now I downright dislike her for something she pulled earlier this month at the Canadian Open.<\/p>\n She was beaten in the Final there by young up-and-coming Canadian Victoria Mboko<\/strong>, and\u2026didn\u2019t even give her a mention in her runner-up speech! That\u2019s unheard of in sports, especially tennis! At the very least, they always say, \u201cI want to congratulate [so-and-so] and their team.\u201d That was rude of Naomi, who I feel is often a poor sport these days. Her excuse for not mentioning Victoria? She forgot! With the girl standing right next to her! OMG.<\/p>\n So I\u2019m very happy to see that Victoria is seeded #22 here at the US Open, while Naomi is right behind<\/em> her at #23. Ha!<\/p>\n The late Braun Levi.<\/p><\/div>\n And now I have to tell you of a devastatingly sad story; it does<\/em> have a heartwarming aftermath, which I\u2019m thankful to also share, although, of course, I wish it had not happened. In May, young Los Angeles tennis player, Braun Levi<\/strong>, was killed by an \u201calleged\u201d drunk driver. (For some reason, it seems that everyone talking or writing about the tragic situation is required to say \u201calleged\u201d drunk driver, so I am, too. But not only does it appear that the woman was over the alcohol limit, but she also had no license anymore! What a disgusting person!)<\/p>\n So in his memory, Braun\u2019s family, (who had already lost their Pacific Palisades home in the fires in January\u2014how is any of this fair?,) started the Live Like Braun Foundation. (You can learn more and\/or donate here: livelikebraunfoundation.org<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Emilio Nava, (before he buzz-cut his hair for this Major.)<\/p><\/div>\n The heartwarming part of this story is that another young American player, Emilio Nava<\/strong>, who had never even met Braun or his family, decided on his own to help raise awareness for the foundation! How many twenty-three-year-olds would even think of doing that, especially when they\u2019re getting ready to play in the first round of a Major tournament?! I have never rooted for anyone more! (Outside of Roger Federer.) About all that, commentator Jason Goodall<\/strong> told us, \u201cNava wanted to get the story about drunk driving to the forefront of everyone\u2019s mind. Emilio said, \u2018I\u2019m trying to end drunk driving.\u2019\u201d Braun\u2019s mother, Jenn Levi<\/strong>, commented that Nava asked, \u201cWhat can I do to help spread the movement?\u201d The guy even invited her and her family to be his guests at his first-round match! What a kid! Jenn also said that the US Tennis Association has lifted them up and supported them. I had to take a long break after learning about all of that. (If you\u2019d like to understand more about their connection, here\u2019s a good article I just found: www.atptour.com\/en\/news\/nava-us-open-2025-feature<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Aryna Sabalenka, who I think is so pretty. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n To not end this article on that heartbreaking story, let me say that I do hope that Aryna Sabalenka, (who I believe is making a concerted effort to not \u201cgrunt\u201d as loudly as usual,) wins the women\u2019s championship, but that\u2019s about all of the emotional involvement I can muster this year; as I was watching yesterday\u2019s first day of play, I realized that my mind kept wandering, and I wasn\u2019t really caring about most of the outcomes.<\/p>\n If anything particularly interesting happens, or if I just have to rag on someone\u2019s extreme stupidity, (which usually occurs via moronic ESPN studio host *Chris McKendy<\/strong>,) I\u2019ll, of course, post my live thoughts on all the proceedings on X, the former Twitter. My moniker on that platform is @MajorCelebrity<\/strong>. I hope you\u2019ll join me there in seeing how it all unfolds.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screen-Shot-2025-08-24-at-3.27.20-PM-e1756100491670.png\")
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