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Djokovic Falls in 1st US Match Since 2021, Losing in Doubles in Ohio

MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 13: Novak Djokovic of Serbia fields questions from the media during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 13, 2023 in Mason, Ohio. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 13: Novak Djokovic of Serbia fields questions from the media during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 13, 2023 in Mason, Ohio. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
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Djokovic Falls in 1st US Match Since 2021, Losing in Doubles in Ohio

MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 13: Novak Djokovic of Serbia fields questions from the media during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 13, 2023 in Mason, Ohio. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 13: Novak Djokovic of Serbia fields questions from the media during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 13, 2023 in Mason, Ohio. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP

Novak Djokovic fell in his first match in the United States since 2021, losing in doubles Tuesday in the Western & Southern Open.
Djokovic and Nikola Cacic lost 6-4, 6-2 to Jamie Murray and Michael Venus in the Serbian star's return to the country after missing events because of COVID-19 vaccine restrictions, The Associated Press reported.
Djokovic was playing his first competitive match since falling to top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
The winner of a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Djokovic is set to open singles play Wednesday night against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Alcaraz beat Australian qualifier Jordan Thompson 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the late match. The defending US Open champion became the first ATP player to reach 50 wins this season.
In women's play, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens reached the third round for the first time since 2019 with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over sixth-seeded defending tournament champion Caroline Garcia.
Stephens, who won in New York in 2017, improved to 2-8 in her last 10 matches against top-10 players. Both of the wins have been against Garcia.
Fifth-seeded Ons Jabeur, in her first match since losing the Wimbledon final, overcame a 5-1 deficit in the third set to top Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (2).

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Djokovic Tops Nadal before Sinner Beats Alcaraz in Saudi Arabia

Novak Djokovic of Serbia (L) and Rafel Nadal of Spain hold their trophies after their third place match at the Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 19 October 2024. EPA/STR
Novak Djokovic of Serbia (L) and Rafel Nadal of Spain hold their trophies after their third place match at the Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 19 October 2024. EPA/STR
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Djokovic Tops Nadal before Sinner Beats Alcaraz in Saudi Arabia

Novak Djokovic of Serbia (L) and Rafel Nadal of Spain hold their trophies after their third place match at the Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 19 October 2024. EPA/STR
Novak Djokovic of Serbia (L) and Rafel Nadal of Spain hold their trophies after their third place match at the Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 19 October 2024. EPA/STR

Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 for the championship in the Six Kings Slam exhibition Saturday after Novak Djokovic topped Rafael Nadal 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the third-place match.

While Sinner and Alcaraz probably have plenty of future matchups in store, Djokovic and Nadal may have been playing for the final time in one of tennis’ great rivalries.

Djokovic won the match between rivals who have combined for 46 Grand Slam singles titles. Nadal, who won 22 Slam titles, is planning to retire after playing for Spain next month in the Davis Cup.
They shared a warm embrace at the net after Djokovic's victory. He also beat Nadal in the Olympics and had a 31-29 lead in their head-to-head.
“The last dance was an epic one,” Djokovic wrote on social media. “And of course emotional. I’ll cherish our rivalry forever, (at)rafaelnadal. Tennis will miss you.”
Sinner then emerged with a victory over Alcaraz in a matchup between the winners of all four major titles this season. The top-ranked Sinner, who had lost all three meetings this season, collected $6 million for the win.
“Until now, every match was very, very good, but we will always hope this rivalry will last as long as possible,” Sinner said.
Alcaraz beat the Italian on Oct. 2 to win the China Open in Beijing, along with semifinal victories at the French Open and Indian Wells. The Spaniard has a 6-4 lead in their head-to-head on Tour.
“I will try to do my best every day ... to hopefully make this rivalry better and better over the years,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz defeated Nadal and Sinner topped Djokovic in the previous round of the exhibition event.