Aryna Sabalenka, Novak Djokovic knocked out in first round of US Open mixed doubles

Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic’s US Open mixed doubles campaign ended in the opening round after they were beaten by doubles specialists Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten on Tuesday.The top-seeded pair started brightly but could not maintain their momentum, losing 1-4, 4-2 (10-2).The defeat means Sabalenka and Djokovic will now focus entirely on their singles campaigns at the tournament.Doubles specialists turn it aroundSabalenka and Djokovic raced through the opening set in just 12 minutes and also secured an early break in the second. However, Siniakova and Patten quickly changed the match.Siniakova, the world No. 1 in women's doubles, served out the contest with an ace against Djokovic.“Kat acing Novak on match point was pretty fun,” Patten said after the match.Patten, who is also ranked No. 1 in men's doubles, and Siniakova will next face married couple Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals.Svitolina and Monfils advanced comfortably after beating Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-1, 4-1. Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik also reached the last eight after defeating Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arevalo 4-1, 2-4 (10-7).Star-studded mixed doubles eventThe 16-team mixed doubles competition was redesigned last year to attract more leading singles players. It is being held over two days before the singles main draw and uses a faster scoring format designed to limit the physical demands on players.Sabalenka, a two-time defending US Open women's singles champion, and Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, were the top seeds based on their combined singles rankings.Despite their early exit, the tournament still features major stars. Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were also scheduled to compete in the opening round, with the winning pair set to receive a $1 million prize.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.