Eisenhower Cup Tie Break Tens Sees Mixed Doubles Format for the First Time, Home Favorites Fritz and Sabalenka Clinch Title
The Indian Wells Tennis Garden was packed with excitement as the 11th installment of the Eisenhower Cup Tie Break Tens was held on Tuesday. This year, the tournament featured a mixed doubles format for the first time ever, with some of the world’s top players competing in the quick-fire 10-point deciding tiebreak matches.
The event was aimed at entertaining the crowd while also raising money to help those in need, and eight star-studded teams from the ATP & WTA Tours signed up to participate.
In the end, it was the pairing of Taylor Fritz and Aryna Sabalenka who emerged victorious, beating WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz in the final. The home favorites walked away with the $200,000 prize money and a smaller version of the Eisenhower Cup trophy.
Mixed doubles events outside of the four Grand Slams, the Hopman Cup, and the Olympics are rare, but the crowd at Stadium 2 was treated to some of the most exciting doubles pairings in the sport.
One of the highlights of the event was the teaming up of Ons Jabeur and Casper Ruud, who bonded over their shared experience of losing in two Grand Slam finals last year. The unlikely duo defeated local favorites Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul in the first round.
Greek pair Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas also had a strong start, defeating Cameron Norrie and Paula Badosa 12-10 in their opening match.
But it was Fritz and Sabalenka who stole the show, defeating Stan Wawrinka and Belinda Bencic 10-4 in the first round before going on to beat Jabeur and Ruud 10-8 in the semifinals.
Polish pair Iga Swiatek and Hurkacz also made it to the final, defeating Sakkari and Tsitsipas 10-7 in the semis. However, it was Fritz and Sabalenka who ultimately proved to be the best team, edging out their opponents 10-8 in the final.
Fritz even had a special moment on the court as his aunt, who was a part of the event’s supporting organization, presented him with the winner’s trophy. Overall, the 2023 Eisenhower Cup Tie Break Tens was a thrilling display of top-tier tennis and exciting new formats.
