Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka faced an unexpected end to their mixed doubles journey at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. They were defeated in the first round by the duo of Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova, who secured a 4-1, 2-4, 10-2 victory.
The match began promisingly for Djokovic, a record holder with 24 Grand Slam singles titles, and Sabalenka, a four-time major champion, as they claimed the first set. However, Patten and Siniakova fought back. After leveling up the match, they dominated the final tiebreaker to advance to the quarter-finals.
Siniakova sealed the win with an impressive ace on match point, marking a significant upset against one of the tournament’s key attractions.
Patten reflected on the challenges of the mixed doubles format, noting how quickly fortunes can change in a single game. “It wasn’t looking great for a while. In this format, one bad game can make you lose the first set,” he explained. “We knew something similar could happen in the second set, but we played exceptionally well in the tiebreak. Kat’s ace on match point against Novak was incredible.”
This year, the mixed doubles event has again been scheduled before the main singles draw, following changes made last year to promote more participation from top singles players. The tweak proved successful, impressing audiences with sold-out stands and an array of stars joining the competition. Still, some in the doubles community expressed concerns that these changes may limit chances for established doubles teams.
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori from Italy, who were the defending champions, previously secured their title by defeating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in the finals last year.
