Djokovic and Sabalenka Shocked in U.S. Open Mixed Doubles
Top-seeded duo Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka faced an unexpected early exit from the U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament on Tuesday. They lost their opening match to Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova, who emerged victorious with a score of 4-1, 2-4, 10-2.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion, and Sabalenka, a four-time major winner, started strong, taking the first set. However, Patten and Siniakova turned the match around by winning the second set, and they excelled in the decisive tiebreaker to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Siniakova sealed the win by delivering a powerful ace on match point, marking a remarkable victory against one of the tournament’s most prominent teams.
Reflecting on the match, Patten noted that the mixed doubles format can be intense, where one lost game can change everything. “It wasn’t looking good for a while. In this format, one bad game and you lose the set,” he said. He added that they played exceptionally well in the tiebreak, highlighting Siniakova’s ace against Djokovic as a standout moment.
This year’s mixed doubles event is taking place before the main singles draw, continuing a new tradition introduced last year. The aim was to boost participation from top singles players, and the changes proved fruitful, drawing large crowds and featuring several elite players. However, some in the doubles community have criticized the new format for potentially limiting opportunities for seasoned doubles teams.
Last year’s mixed doubles champions, Italy’s Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, will not be defending their title after their stunning defeat in this year’s tournament.
The excitement continues at the U.S. Open as fans look forward to more thrilling matches ahead.
