Sabalenka and Djokovic Drop US Open Mixed Doubles Opener

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic suffered an unexpected first-round defeat in the US Open mixed doubles competition at Arthur Ashe Stadium against doubles specialists Kateřina Siniaková and Henry Patten.

Siniaková and Patten rallied after dropping the first set to secure a 1-4, 4-2, 10-2 victory, eliminating the event's top seeds during the tournament's revamped prelude format ahead of the singles draw starting August 30.

"It wasn’t looking very good for a while," said Patten, Novak Djokovic's opponent. "In this format, we played one bad game, and all of a sudden the set was gone. So, we knew the same was possible in the second set."

The British player highlighted the pivotal moments that sealed their comeback triumph over the high-profile duo on the stadium court.

"We played an amazing tie-break, I mean Kat acing Novak on match point was pretty fun!" said Patten, Novak Djokovic's opponent.

The match generated significant online commentary regarding Sabalenka's Nike attire, which featured an orange two-piece outfit beneath a black mesh dress, alongside bold custom jewelry designed by Material Good.

"How about that - Sabalenka leading the parade of streetwalker chic at the US Open with fishnet over shorts and a sports bra," said an online critic, social media user.

Spectators and viewers shared contrasting assessments of the Belarusian star's vibrant court appearance throughout the broadcast.

"Sabalenka ’s maximalist jewellery with those multicoloured stones set in gold clashes badly with her US open kit. Looks a mess imo," said another viewer, social media user.

The visual combination prompted immediate reactions from casual observers and tennis fans following the match online.

"this sabalenka clown kit can’t be actually real," said one critic, social media user.

Discussions regarding the striking black mesh layer continued to circulate across social media platforms during the loss.

"Omg Aryna’s kit looks even worse than I could have possibly imagined on court," said a fan, social media user.

Several viewers expressed lukewarm reactions to the unorthodox design choices presented on the court.

"I’m a big fan of hers but I’m not crazy about this look," said a supporter, social media user.

Others questioned whether the top seed was required to wear the specific gear provided for the tournament.

"It's horrible! Cant' she refuse to wear it?" said a viewer, social media user.

Additional remarks focused on the custom-designed accessories paired with the colorful athletic wear.

"The tacky jewelry is even worse," said a commentator, social media user.

Addressing her fashion choices prior to the event, Sabalenka previously indicated her comfort with creative outfit designs regardless of public reaction.

"I love my outfit. If someone doesn't like it, it's okay. You cannot impress everyone with your outfits," said Aryna Sabalenka, World No. 1 tennis player. "That's why I like fashion because there is room for whatever, basically."

The custom jewelry collection was crafted specifically for the tournament in collaboration with New York-based luxury brand Material Good, following design partnerships at previous Grand Slam events.

"I cried when she won," said Atara Lev, Material Good's Head of Design. "I mean, obviously I was so happy that she won, and it was a very intense game. But it’s such a visceral thing: Here is this world-class athlete who decided, ‘I like Material Good enough that I want to wear them on this world stage while I play in the ultimate tennis competition.’ Then all of a sudden she was raising the trophy and the earrings were there."

Brand representatives noted that their ongoing partnership developed naturally after Sabalenka initially visited their retail location for unrelated items.

"We really work in tandem with her to create something very specific for her playing on the court and her vibe and style," said Teresa Panico, Material Good's Director of Marketing. "She’s very adventurous with her jewelry, with her style in general, but she’s not scared of color and big pieces so we can get really fun and playful with it."

The marketing team expressed enthusiasm for expanding their design footprint into elite athletic competitions.

"We love bespoke. We create pieces around—we listen to our clients, we take everything into consideration and give it our spin and our edge. We love to create things for people.

So we really wanted to make that part of the process with her. It’s been so great because she’s loved everything. It’s been an honor.

It really has. It’s been a dream come true for us and for the brand," said Teresa Panico, Material Good's Director of Marketing.

Both Sabalenka and Djokovic will begin their respective Grand Slam singles campaigns when main draw action begins on August 30.