Associated Press1 Minute Reading
MASON, Ohio — Novak Djokovic dropped in his first match in the United States since 2021, losing in doubles on Tuesday at the Western & Southern Open.
Djokovic and Nikola Cacic lost 6-4, 6-2 to Jamie Murray and Michael Venus on the return of the Serbian star to the country after missing the events due to the restrictions of the vaccine of COVID-19.
Djokovic is playing in his first competition since falling from the top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
Winner of a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Djokovic is set to open singles play Wednesday night against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Alcaraz beat the Australian qualifier Jordan Thompson 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the last game. The defending US Open champion became the first ATP player to reach 50 wins this season.
In the women’s game, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens reached the third round for the first time since 2019 with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over the sixth-seeded defending tournament champion Caroline Garcia.
Stephens, who won in New York in 2017, improved to 2-8 in his last 10 matches against top-10 players. The two wins against Garcia.
Fifth seed Ons Jabeurin his first match since losing the Wimbledon final, overcame a 5-1 deficit in the third set above. Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (2).
And in the women’s nightcap, Elise Mertens lost the No. 15 Madison Keys6-3, 3-6, 6-3.