“Maybe at the US Open this year?”: Aryna Sabalenka hints at a mixed doubles future with Novak Djokovic

Aryna Sabalenka referred to a potential partnership with Novak Djokovic after her fourth-round victory. The world No.1 hinted that she could team up with the 24-time Grand Slam champion at the next US Open – although she joked that Nole should be the one to ask her to play together.

The 4-time Grand Slam champion came out victorious in her 4th round clash against Victoria Mboko (17th seed), although with some difficulties in the final moments. After Sabalenka had a 6-1, 4-1 lead – which included a double break advantage – the Canadian managed to even things up and take it all to a tie-break, where the world No.1 showed her hierarchy and ended up closing the win 6-1, 7-6(1).

After advancing to the quarterfinals, it was all joy for the 2-time Aussie Open champion, who sees herself getting closer to going for the title again. During the post-match analysis of her win over Mboko and her expectations for the next challenge in the tournament, Sabalenka was asked about her friendship with Djokovic.

And indeed, the Belarusian broke a record of Nole’s by winning the tie-break against Mboko: she reached 20 consecutive tie-breaks won in major tournaments – surpassing the 19 in a row that Djokovic achieved in 2007. The Serbian sent a message on social media that caught attention, and it became yet another chapter of the constant nods Sabalenka and Djokovic have shown toward each other.

The good relationship between Sabalenka and Djokovic is well-known, both constantly joking and sending messages through the same channels. Two players with a great sense of humor who have been seen together several times off-court.

Headline During the press conference, Sabalenka responded to a potential partnership with Djokovic for mixed doubles, undoubtedly a pairing that would steal the public’s attention. “I mean, I’m still waiting for… he just barely asked me at the US Open last year,” mentioned Sabalenka, who did not compete in mixed doubles in 2025.

Let us remember that the 2025 edition of the US Open mixed doubles was full of controversies and attention, following a format change that left the draw almost without specialists and included many top singles players by invitation. Among them, Sabalenka appeared with Dimitrov – although they were last-minute replacements. On Djokovic’s side, he partnered with his compatriot Olga Danilovic, being eliminated in the first round by the Russian pair Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev.

Sabalenka’s comments show that she would be willing to give mixed doubles another chance at the 2026 US Open alongside Djokovic: “But I’m still waiting for that long message from him,” joked the Belarusian. “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. So I don’t know, maybe we’re not playing…” she said laughing before ending her press conference.

A recent example of their closeness happened in Greece, when they coincided for joint practice sessions, something they also did ahead of Wimbledon last year, when they recorded a particular challenge for social media while hitting together on grass courts – which left the Belarusian as the winner.

Later, Djokovic told an anecdote during Wimbledon 2025 about his daughter Tara and how Aryna Sabalenka became her favorite player. The Serbian humorously explained that his daughter only asks if she can go to Sabalenka’s house again, because she “has a fridge full of açaí,” and since they went there and Sabalenka prepared the Brazilian fruit for them, that is all Tara can think about.

The relationship has extended to their social lives and their partners. In October 2025, Sabalenka and her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis shared a double date with Djokovic and his wife Jelena. The night was documented on social media by the Belarusian with the message “Dream double date,” showing how both athletes enjoy time together outside tournaments, reinforcing a friendly and trusting bond beyond the competitive aspect of tennis.

Djokovic himself has a joint investment with Georgios Frangulis as co-owners of the football club Le Mans FC, which competes in Ligue 2 – the second division in France – and in which they are also partners with drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen. Frangulis is also co-founder of Umana – a natural products brand – which has Nole as an ambassador and key investor.