Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic are set to form a super team at the US Open later this month, as they have signed up for the mixed doubles event together. The mixed tournament was revamped last year and now lasts just two days before the other main draws get underway, with just 16 teams competing and fast-4 set scoring in use.
Last year, Sabalenka signed up alongside Grigor Dimitrov but had to withdraw when the Bulgarian star pulled out due to a pectoral injury, while Djokovic competed alongside countrywoman Olga Danilovic, losing in round one. Now, the multi-Grand Slam champions will be pairing up together.
The US Open recently shared a provisional list of teams that have already entered the mixed doubles event. The final lineup will be confirmed closer to the time, with six teams gaining direct entry via the best combined singles ranking, eight receiving wildcards, and two coming through qualifying.
Sabalenka and Djokovic will no doubt feature in the main draw when the time comes. They currently have a combined ranking of six – Sabalenka is the world No. 1 and Djokovic the world No. 5 – and have 28 Grand Slam titles between them, surely warranting a wildcard if needed.
And two-time US Open singles champion Sabalenka has already warned the rest of the field that she and the Serbian superstar won’t be holding back in the mixed doubles competition, declaring: “We are going full.”
The world No. 1 addressed her blockbuster link-up with Djokovic after arriving in Toronto for the Canadian Open – part of the North American hard-court swing leading up to the US Open.
After missing out on the reimagined mixed doubles competition last year when Dimitrov got injured, Sabalenka said: “I hope everyone going to be healthy this time! I’m pretty excited. I think it’s going to be fun. Playing with Novak is always fun.
“Mixed doubles, I played it once in my life, I mean on the Grand Slams, and we are going full, you know, we’re chasing only title, that’s our goal, I believe, so it’s going to be fun and intense, I believe.”
After some tough losses on the clay and grass in recent months, Sabalenka will be relishing her return to the hard courts – by far her best surface. After having a brief holiday following her fourth-round exit at Wimbledon, the four-time Major champion returned to training and explained how she dealt with the surface change.
“It’s a routine. It’s lots of rallies, lots of basic work, like cross-court. I don’t know, it’s just like, kind of not going back to like really small variety of the game,” she said. “Don’t go too much into these angles, dropshots, serve and volley, just kind of bring back the baseline game, make sure I’m really confident there. Then, on top of that, put some variety.”