Top Seeds Eliminated in Opening Round
The US Open Mixed Doubles Championship witnessed a major upset on August 25, as top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were defeated in their opening match by Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten. The score was 1-4, 4-2, 10-2, with Siniakova sealing the win with an ace on match point. Djokovic and Sabalenka had taken the first set but lost momentum as Patten and Siniakova dominated the tiebreak.[S4]
Patten commented on the match, noting that in this format, a single bad game can cost a set, and they played an amazing tiebreak. He praised Siniakova's ace against Djokovic on match point. The loss ends the tournament hopes for the star-studded pairing, who were among the favorites.[S4]
Star-Studded Field and Notable Pairings
The tournament features a host of high-profile pairings, including Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams, who received a wild card. Alcaraz is returning from a wrist injury that sidelined him since April, while Williams is making her New York comeback after a four-year hiatus. Other notable teams include Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, and defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.[S1][S2]
From August 24 to 26, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center hosts the event, featuring matches on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums with a unique format. This format includes best-of-three-set matches, with sets played to four games and no-ad scoring, and a 10-point tiebreak replacing the third set, except for the final which requires sets to be won with six games.[S1][S2]
Other Results and Quarterfinal Action
In other first-round results, Emma Navarro and Tommy Paul defeated Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien, while Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils beat Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Karlina Muchova and Jakub Mensik advanced past Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arevalo. In the quarterfinals, Muchova and Mensik defeated Navarro and Paul 4-1, 4-3, and Svitolina and Monfils overcame Siniakova and Patten in a tight match.[S3]
Wednesday, August 26, will feature semifinals and the final of the tournament, where 16 teams compete for $1 million. The revamped format, introduced in 2025, has drawn large crowds and top players, despite some criticism.[S3][S4]
