Djokovic, Sabalenka upset in US Open mixed doubles first round

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were eliminated in the first round of the US Open mixed doubles on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in a stunning upset by doubles specialists Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova. The top-seeded pair of tennis stars lost 4-6, 2-4, 2-10 after taking the opening set on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion, and Sabalenka, a four-time major champion, started strongly and appeared in control as they captured the first set 4-1. However, Patten and Siniakova, who hold multiple Grand Slam titles in doubles, recovered immediately. They leveled the contest by taking the second set 4-2 before dominating the decisive match tiebreak to secure a place in the quarterfinals. Siniakova sealed the victory with a wide ace to Djokovic on match point, completing one of the tournament's most notable early upsets.

The defeat underscored the unpredictable nature of the revamped mixed doubles format, where matches are shorter and momentum can shift rapidly. Patten acknowledged the unforgiving format, noting that one poor game can effectively decide a set. "In this format, we played one bad game, and all of a sudden the set was gone. So, we knew...