Rome, 25 Aug. (LaPresse) – Having come through the qualifiers to reach the main draw, world number ones Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten proved themselves to be among the most dangerous teams, delivering the tournament’s first upset: the elimination of the top seeds in the main draw, Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, who were defeated in a super tie-break with the score 1-4, 4-2, 10-2. After a one-sided first set, the Anglo-Czech pair had to wait until the fourth game of the second set for their first break point opportunity: once Patten had converted it, the match changed direction, with Patten himself taking control right up to the decisive point that levelled the match. With the Serbian having taken off his cap, and the Belarusian increasingly gripped by nerves, first Djokovic and then Aryna stumbled into two double faults, putting their opponents 5-2 ahead for an overall score of 15-5. Frustrated and disheartened, the top seeds were unable to get back into the match, with Siniakova relentless at the net to extend the lead to 7-2 and Patten explosive and spectacular in closing out the match. Awaiting the world number ones, Siniakova and Patten, in the quarter-finals will be the Monfils couple, who emerged victorious in two sets with two 4-1 wins against the pair Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime. From the outset, the match followed a clear script, with Svitolina and Monfils in control of proceedings and their opponents forced to wait until the third game of the second set for their first break point opportunity, which was thwarted by a fine outside serve from the Ukrainian – a prelude to a conclusion that would soon follow and be sealed with a kiss.
US Open: mixed doubles – Sabalenka and Djokovic knocked out in the first round
Rome, 25 Aug. (LaPresse) – Having come through the qualifiers to reach the main draw, world number ones Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten proved themselves to be among the most dangerous teams, delivering the tournament’s first upset: the elimination of the top seeds in the main draw, Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, who were defeated in a super tie-break with the score 1-4, 4-2, 10-2. After a one-sided first set, the Anglo-Czech pair had to wait until the fourth game of the second set for their first break point opportunity: once Patten had converted it, the match changed direction, with Patten himself taking control right up to the decisive point that levelled the match. With the Serbian having taken off his cap, and the Belarusian increasingly gripped by nerves, first Djokovic and then Aryna stumbled into two double faults, putting their opponents 5-2 ahead for an overall score of 15-5. Frustrated and disheartened, the top seeds were unable to get back into the match, with Siniakova relentless at the net to extend the lead to 7-2 and Patten explosive and spectacular in closing out the match. Awaiting the world number ones, Siniakova and Patten, in the quarter-finals will be the Monfils couple, who emerged victorious in two sets with two 4-1 wins against the pair Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime. From the outset, the match followed a clear script, with Svitolina and Monfils in control of proceedings and their opponents forced to wait until the third game of the second set for their first break point opportunity, which was thwarted by a fine outside serve from the Ukrainian – a prelude to a conclusion that would soon follow and be sealed with a kiss.