World No. 1 Sabalenka and Djokovic Fall in US Open Mixed Doubles Opener

The star-studded partnership of Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic came to an abrupt end on the opening day of the revamped US Open mixed doubles tournament, as the top-seeded pair were beaten by doubles specialists Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten.

Sabalenka and Djokovic made a flying start, racing through the opening set in just 12 minutes. But the momentum quickly shifted as Siniakova, the world No. 1 in women's doubles, and Patten, the world No. 1 in men's doubles, showcased why experience in the doubles format can outweigh singles star power.

After recovering from the early setback, Siniakova and Patten won the contest 1-4, 4-2 (10-2), sealing victory when Siniakova fired an ace while serving to Djokovic on match point.

“ Kat acing Novak on match point was pretty fun,” Patten said after the victory.

The defeat means Sabalenka, the two-time defending US Open women's singles champion, and 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will now turn their complete attention towards their singles campaigns.

The mixed doubles event has been redesigned to attract more of tennis' biggest singles names. Reduced to a two-day, 16-team competition before the singles main draw, the new format features shorter matches designed to minimise the physical demands on players. The winning pair will receive a $1 million prize.

Elsewhere, married couple Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils produced a dominant performance, beating Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-1, 4-1 to reach the semifinals. Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik also advanced after overcoming Kristina Mladenovic and Marcelo Arevalo 4-1, 2-4 (10-7).

With more high-profile partnerships, including Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, set to take the court, the revamped competition has already delivered its first major talking point: in mixed doubles, specialist skill can still trump superstar status.