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

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.

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?

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.