Aryna Sabalenka admits she would absolutely love to team up with Novak Djokovic again and possibly play mixed doubles at the US Open.
Throughout his career, the Serb has rarely played in mixed doubles as the majority of his appearances in the competition came at the Olympics or mixed team events such as the Hopman Cup and United Cup.
However, last year, Djokovic agreed to take part in US Open's two-day mixed doubles event with Olga Danilovic. The Serbian duo ended up losing in the first round, in what was the 38-year-old's first Grand Slam mixed doubles appearance since the 2006 Australian Open.
Sabalenka, who played mixed doubles with Novak Djokovic at an Australian Open charity tournament just before the start of the 2024 Happy Slam, enjoyed the experience two years ago and now hopes to get to do the same thing in a real tournament.
Sabalenka jokes: I'm still waiting for that long message from Djokovic
"Maybe at the US Open this year. I mean, I'm still waiting. I'm still waiting for that long message from him, how he would like to play with me, that I'm his dream partner. So I'm still waiting for the message. Never got it. I don't know. Maybe we're not playing," the top-ranked WTA player said.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka was also due to compete in the revamped US Open mixed doubles format last year. During the summer, it was announced that the four-time Grand Slam champion would team up alongside Grigor Dimitrov. But then, the Bulgarian sustained an unfortunate shoulder injury during Wimbledon and missed the entire North American hard-court swing.
Later, Sabalenka refused to find an alternate partner, saying: “Well there is a few guys who are asking, but, no, I don’t think so."
It remains to be seen if Sabalenka's wish to play mixed doubles with Djokovic at the US Open will come true.
