Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were eliminated from the US Open mixed doubles in the first round on Wednesday, losing 1-4, 4-2, 10-2 to Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova.
Djokovic and Sabalenka exit US Open mixed doubles in first round
Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were eliminated from the US Open mixed doubles in the first round on Wednesday, losing 1-4, 4-2, 10-2 to Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova.
Djokovic, a 24-time grand slam singles champion, and Sabalenka, a four-time major winner, took the opening set before Patten and Siniakova won the second and then dominated the tiebreak to advance to the quarterfinals.
Siniakova sealed the match with an ace on match point.
The mixed doubles event is being staged in the week before the singles main draw, after organisers revamped the format the previous year to attract leading singles players by reducing the field and giving the event a standalone slot on the calendar.
The format's debut year was described as a commercial success, drawing sellout crowds and attracting top singles names, though some doubles specialists argued the changes marginalised established pairings, according to the source.
Italian pair Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori retained the title last year, defeating Iga Świątek and Casper Ruud in the final.
Djokovic and Sabalenka are scheduled to begin their singles campaigns from August 30.
- The source does not state Djokovic's or Sabalenka's reaction or post-match comments.
- The source does not identify which doubles specialists criticized the revamped format or quote them directly.
- The source does not state the date or specific session on which the match was played.
- The source does not state Patten's nationality or describe his doubles background beyond naming him.
Read the original at ABC News Australia