The U.S. Open is moving its mixed doubles championship to the week before singles play begins, hoping a revamped format and $1 million prize will persuade top singles players to chase a Grand Slam doubles title.

Mixed doubles at the US Open is to be played for a $1m first prize in the week before the singles event - making the final Grand Slam of the season a three-week event. And American stars Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula have pledged to take part.

The U.S. Open mixed doubles competition will now be played before the singles main draw, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said on Tuesday as it announced an overhaul of the category's format and an increase in prize money.

In a revamped move, US Open will see mixed doubles events happening prior to main draw with lesser teams and sets to four games.

The US Open receives strong criticism following its decision to hold its mixed doubles competition as a standalone event before the start of the Slam.

Tennis legend Paul McNamee is not a fan of the U.S. Open’s “reimagined” format for mixed doubles. McNamee, who won four Grand Slam men’s doubles titles and was ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles, posted on social media: “Sets to 4 games in a Grand Slam?