Djokovic & Sabalenka Suffer Shock Exit in US Open Mixed Doubles

Djokovic & Sabalenka © ABC News / Images

NEW YORK — In one of the biggest upsets of the tournament's opening days, top-seeded pair Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka crashed out of the US Open mixed doubles event in the very first round, beaten by dedicated doubles specialists Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic and Britain's Henry Patten at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday.

The star-studded union of Djokovic — a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No. 1 — and Sabalenka, a four-time major winner and the reigning two-time US Open women's champion, had been one of the most eagerly anticipated pairings of the tournament's revamped mixed doubles format. But the pairing's on-court chemistry was no match for the polish of the world's top-ranked men's and women's doubles players.

Djokovic and Sabalenka started strongly, cruising through the opening set 4-1 under the event's short-set format. Siniakova and Patten regrouped immediately, however, storming back to level the match 4-2 in the second set before completely dominating the deciding tiebreak, closing it out 10-2. Siniakova sealed the win in style, firing an ace out wide on match point to send the star pairing home.

How the Comeback Unfolded

Speaking after the win, Patten admitted the tie had looked precarious early on given the unforgiving nature of the abbreviated mixed doubles format, where a single lapse can cost an entire set. He credited Siniakova's composure in the deciding tiebreak for turning the match around.

Siniakova and Patten, ranked No. 1 in the world in women's and men's doubles respectively, went on to reach the mixed doubles quarterfinals off the back of the win, though their own run was later ended by Frenchman Gael Monfils and Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in a tight three-setter.

Star Power Not Enough

The result underscores a recurring theme of the US Open's revamped mixed doubles event, introduced to draw bigger singles stars into the discipline in the days ahead of the main draw: pairing box-office names does not guarantee results against players who compete in doubles week in, week out. Djokovic and Sabalenka joined the likes of past editions' celebrity pairings in bowing out early, while other singles stars fared better elsewhere in the draw — Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams, playing together for the first time, advanced to the quarterfinals in their own pairing.

Despite the early exit from mixed doubles, the setback is not expected to affect either player's preparations for the singles tournament proper. Sabalenka enters the US Open as the defending champion and top seed, chasing a third consecutive title in New York, while Djokovic continues his pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles crown.

Also Read: US Open 2026 Mixed Doubles Semifinals

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