Moving a Grand Slam event into its qualifying week takes the biggest tournaments in tennis into unexplored territory.

The U.S. Open's plan to make its mixed doubles championship a smaller, shorter event aimed at persuading top singles players to compete was criticized Tuesday by doubles specialists who figure to get shut out of the new format.

US Open champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori have added their voice to widespread criticism towards the “profound injustice” of the New York grand slam’s mixed doubles shake-up. This year’s tournament will dramatically overhaul the event long treated as an afterthought.