Ultimately, the two-day doubles party – where courtside DJs pumped up the crowd and encouraged a raucous atmosphere – will be considered a success.
Britain’s Jack Draper, who is ranked fifth in the ATP singles rankings but has limited doubles experience, said he thought it was a “great” event.
“If I wasn’t playing the mixed here, I’d be training. I prefer playing on a big court in front of people. It gets your eye in quicker,” he said.
After the opening day’s action, Draper made a Freudian slip which initially proved quite telling.
Draper was playfully scolded by his partner Jessica Pegula for describing the new-look event as an “exhibition” – a word used disparagingly by its detractors.
But, following their semi-final exit, Draper was keen to point out the event did not feel like a hit and giggle after all.
“[On Tuesday] there were times where it felt a little bit more that way from our opponents,” he said.
“Whereas tonight we were in the changing rooms, you’re seeing Iga and Casper, they’re like fully dialled in. It was intense.”
The fans on the ground in New York also demonstrated their appetite for something different.
On the opening day, the 25,000-seater Arthur Ashe Stadium was about two-thirds full when A-List pairing Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz walked out to a pop star-style reception.
For Wednesday’s semi-finals and final, where face-value tickets ranged from $50 (£37) to $262 (£195), it was just short of a full house with only a slither of empty seats at the very back.
Ticket-holders Hilary Hamm and Maria Segovia – ardent tennis fans who have previously travelled from New York to Wimbledon and the Australian Open – admitted they have rarely watched mixed doubles in the past.
“Moving it from finals weekend and making it a standalone event caught our attention,” said 32-year-old Maria. “If it is going to increase crowd engagement, then I’d definitely to see more events like this.”
Hilary, also 32, added: “I think it’s been amazing. Watching the women leading the male partners has been particularly inspiring and shows tennis needs a strong mixed gender competition featuring the stars.”
