The Serbian Novak Djokovic and the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka lost Tuesday in the first round of the mixed doubles of the US Open against the Czech Katerina Siniakova and the British Henry Patten, both world No.1 in doubles.
Siniakova and Patten won the super tie-break and will meet a little later in the day in the quarter-final the French Gaël Monfils and the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, a couple in life, winners of the pair Eala-Auger-Aliassime.
Singles stars rather than doubles
For the second year in a row and to revive interest in mixed doubles, the organizers mainly invited singles stars rather than mixed doubles specialists, and innovated by offering rounds of four games and not six, with a super tie-break in ten points in the event of a tie at one set all.
Friends in life, Djokovic and Sabalenka, all relaxed and big smiles, won the first set (4-1), before getting frustrated and losing the second set (4-2) then the super tie-break (10-2).
Five days before the start of the singles draws, this mixed doubles tournament, which takes place Tuesday and Wednesday, almost acts as a preparation for the big names in tennis.
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka will aim for the hat-trick in singles after her victories in New York in 2024 and 2025, while the indefatigable Novak Djokovic is still in search of a 25th Grand Slam title.
