Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic will play blended doubles collectively on the US Open.
Good mates off the courtroom, Sabalenka and Djokovic now have a possibility to realize Grand Slam glory on it.
The Belarusian and the Serb will play doubles specialists Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten within the first spherical of the US Open blended doubles occasion on Tuesday, August 25.
Which WTA participant will depart the US Open because the world primary?
4 ladies are in competition!
Sabalenka has been suggested to take all she will from Djokovic through the expertise, as she seems to be to elevate herself out of her present WTA Tour droop.
Mark Petchey encourages Aryna Sabalenka to ‘go to dinner’ with Novak Djokovic earlier than US Open singles begins
In the course of the newest episode of ‘The Big T Podcast‘, Emma Raducanu’s former coach Mark Petchey prompt what Sabalenka ought to do earlier than the US Open.
“She is enjoying with Novak [Djokovic] within the blended, and that will be my factor. Go and chat to Novak, go for dinner,” stated Petchey.
“Go and speak to him about his hardest moments and go and speak to him about how he received out of these moments.
“Go to anyone who has been the place you might have been and the place you’re and go and determine it out.
“You might be adequate; there isn’t any query about it. You understand how to win this match. What’s it that is occurring in your thoughts that’s making you, in sure conditions in a set, panic like we’ve got not seen you panic?”
Sabalenka made a high-quality begin to her 2026 marketing campaign, successful the Brisbane Worldwide earlier than reaching the Australian Open ultimate and finishing the Sunshine Double.
Nonetheless, the world primary has struggled, by her lofty requirements, ever since.
Aryna Sabalenka’s outcomes because the Miami Open
- Madrid Open – Misplaced in QF
- Italian Open – Misplaced in 3R
- French Open – Misplaced in QF
- Berlin Open – Misplaced in SF
- Wimbledon – Misplaced in 4R
- Canadian Open – Misplaced in 4R
- Cincinnati Open – Misplaced in 4R
She hasn’t reached the quarter-finals at any of her final three WTA Tour occasions, which might have been unthinkable just some months earlier.
Petchey believes Sabalenka ought to communicate to Djokovic and go ‘again to fundamentals’.
“Is it the drills that we’re doing? Have we tried to include an excessive amount of? She talked a bit in Toronto about going again to fundamentals. Let’s return to fundamentals, as a result of this sport is primary and is repeatable,” he stated.
“Aryna’s [best] was barely totally different as a result of she was simply hitting winners previous you, and you could possibly not reply to it.
“I might hold it quite simple. There can be no knee-jerk response, however I’m an enormous believer in going to get a number of totally different opinions from individuals.
“Finally, the participant and yourselves are going to decide that you simply assume is the appropriate match on your character and the way in which that all the pieces goes as a result of it’s on you whether or not you succeed or fail, however I’ve been very open in going to ask many coaches about whether or not it’s the appropriate factor to do with a shot, or are they enjoying in the appropriate manner.
“I might simply go for dinner with Novak!”
Aryna Sabalenka may lose the world primary rating if she struggles on the US Open
It can’t be understated simply how a lot is on the road for Sabalenka in New York.
Not solely is she seeking to keep away from a Slam-less season, however she should carry out to retain her spot atop the world rankings.
4 gamers are within the operating for world primary at Flushing Meadows: Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff.
Official WTA Rankings
| Rank | Identify | Nation | Factors |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | 8,575 |
| 2 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan | 8,141 |
| 3 | Jessica Pegula | USA | 7,265 |
| 4 | Coco Gauff | USA | 6,704 |
| 5 | Mirra Andreeva | Russia | 5,443 |
Because the defending champion, Sabalenka will defend 2,000 factors on the US Open, whereas Pegula defends 780, and each Gauff and Rybakina defend 240.
To stay world primary, Sabalenka should win the US Open, and hope that Rybakina fails to succeed in the semi-finals.
Gauff and Pegula may additionally grow to be world primary, however would want to win the title and, like Sabalenka, financial institution on Rybakina shedding earlier than the semis.
Solely time will inform who will depart the US Open because the world primary, however you definitely received’t wish to miss any of the motion.
The 2026 US Open most important draw begins on Sunday, August 30.
