Reluctant at First, Convinced by Persistence
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has officially confirmed that she will play mixed doubles at the upcoming US Open alongside Bulgarian tennis star Grigor Dimitrov. In a recent interview with Tennis Channel, the Belarusian player shared the backstory of how the partnership came to be—and it wasn’t exactly planned.
According to Sabalenka, Dimitrov repeatedly texted her, practically begging her to team up for the tournament. “He kept texting me non-stop, pleading with me to play,” she said. “At first I told him, ‘Man, I don’t want to play.’ But he just wouldn’t let it go. Eventually, I was like, ‘Alright, you win.’”
Surprised by the US Open Format
Sabalenka admitted she wasn’t initially aware of the format changes made by the US Open organizers, which now elevate the status of the mixed doubles event. “I didn’t really understand what he was talking about at first,” she explained. “I asked him, ‘Why would we even play mixed doubles?’ Then he started explaining how the event had changed and what it meant.”
The decision to partner up came shortly after this year’s Australian Open, once she had a better understanding of the tournament’s revamped structure. “No one from the organizers had contacted me directly, so I wasn’t sure if I was even being invited,” she added.
Joining a Star-Studded Lineup
With the USTA giving mixed doubles a more prominent platform this year, several notable pairings have already been announced, including the much-anticipated duo of Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz. The Sabalenka-Dimitrov partnership is expected to draw similar attention, given their high profiles and on-court charisma.
Focus on Berlin for Now
While preparations for the US Open are underway, Sabalenka is currently competing in Berlin as part of her grass-court season. She recently secured her spot in the quarterfinals with a straight-sets victory over Rebeka Masarova (6-2, 7-6). Her next challenge will be Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion.
Despite being initially hesitant, Sabalenka now seems ready to embrace the mixed doubles spotlight with Dimitrov. “He really didn’t give me much of a choice,” she joked. “But now that it’s happening, I’m excited to see how we’ll perform together.”
