The new U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament drew plenty of criticism for everything from its format to its field. With mostly singles players, some who rarely play doubles at all, and an unusual scoring system,

Fans packed the lower bowl of Louis Armstrong Stadium, which is free to enter for the newly formatted two-day tournament, to see Venus Williams play in her first mixed doubles match since the 1998 U.S. Open and debut in a Grand Slam event after a two-year hiatus.

Grand Slam singles champions such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys will be playing for extra money — $1 million to the winning duo — and trying to get their hands on a trophy in the U.