Aryna Sabalenka Stays Loyal to Injured Grigor Dimitrov, Skips US Open Mixed Doubles Despite Multiple Offers

Look, we’ve all been there – you make plans with someone, they get hurt, and suddenly everyone else wants to step in as the replacement. But Aryna Sabalenka? She’s not having any of it. The world No. 1 has officially confirmed she’s sitting out the US Open mixed doubles because her original partner, Grigor Dimitrov, is still nursing that brutal injury from Wimbledon. And honestly, her loyalty is both admirable and slightly frustrating for tennis fans who were hoping to see her dominate yet another category.

Why Sabalenka’s Loyalty to Dimitrov Actually Makes Sense

Here’s the thing about Sabalenka – when she commits to something, she really commits. The 27-year-old Belarusian powerhouse had her heart set on teaming up with Dimitrov for what could have been an absolutely electric mixed doubles run. But after the Bulgarian’s hospitalization at Wimbledon (because apparently leading Jannik Sinner by two sets wasn’t enough to avoid a pectoral muscle disaster), those dreams went up in smoke faster than a poorly hit drop shot.

“Well, there is a few guys who are asking, but no, I don’t think so,” Sabalenka said when pressed about potential replacement partners. And honestly? Good for her. In a sport where partnerships change faster than New York weather, seeing someone stick to their word is refreshing, even if it means we miss out on some potentially spectacular tennis.

The reigning US Open women’s singles champion was clearly excited about this mixed doubles venture. She’d already conquered the women’s doubles back in 2019 with Elise Mertens, so adding a mixed doubles title to her collection would have been the perfect cherry on top of an already impressive Flushing Meadows resume.

Dimitrov’s Injury Timeline Ruins Everything

Let’s talk about timing, shall we? Dimitrov‘s injury couldn’t have come at a worse moment. The 34-year-old was absolutely crushing it at Wimbledon, leading Sinner in what looked like it could be a massive upset. Then his body decided to betray him in the most dramatic way possible – hospitalization and everything. The pectoral muscle issue that sidelined him has now forced him to withdraw from the US Open entirely, ending his incredible streak of 58 consecutive major appearances.

Think about that for a second. Fifty-eight straight majors. That’s over 14 years of consistent competition at the highest level, and it all comes crashing down because of a muscle that decided to tap out during what could have been his biggest win in years. Tennis can be absolutely cruel sometimes.

The Mixed Doubles Format Changes Nobody Asked For

Now, here’s where things get interesting – and by interesting, I mean mildly annoying. Sabalenka mentioned that the recent format changes for mixed doubles, including shorter matches and the competition taking place before the singles draw, finally made the event appealing to her. Because apparently, the traditional format wasn’t worth her time, but these new “improvements” were going to be her golden ticket to mixed doubles glory.

It’s almost laughable that after years of avoiding mixed doubles, Sabalenka finally decides she’s interested right when her chosen partner gets injured. The tennis gods clearly have a sense of humor, and it’s not always kind to the players we want to see succeed.

How This Partnership Even Started

The backstory of this doomed partnership is actually pretty entertaining. During an interview with tennis.com, Sabalenka revealed exactly how persistent Dimitrov was in getting her to agree to this mixed doubles adventure: “He was texting me, non-stop, begging me to play. I was like, ‘Man, I don’t want to play.’ But he was begging and I was like, ‘Ok, you got it.'”

Imagine being so determined to play mixed doubles that you resort to essentially harassment-level texting of the world No. 1. Dimitrov really wanted this to happen, probably because their previous partnership at the 2022 World Tennis League exhibition in Dubai didn’t exactly go according to plan (spoiler alert: they lost). He was clearly looking for redemption at Flushing Meadows, and now that opportunity is gone until at least 2026.

What This Means for Sabalenka’s US Open Campaign

So what does this mean for the defending champion heading into the US Open? Well, she’ll have to settle for “just” trying to defend her singles title, which honestly isn’t exactly a consolation prize. Sabalenka has been in phenomenal form, and her focus will undoubtedly be laser-sharp on maintaining her crown in the women’s singles draw.

But you have to wonder if there’s a tiny part of her that’s disappointed about missing this opportunity. The mixed doubles field would have been wide open for a player of her caliber, especially with a solid partner like Dimitrov. Now she’ll have to wait until 2026 to take another shot at completing what could have been an impressive hat-trick of US Open victories across different categories.

The Bigger Picture of Loyalty in Professional Tennis

In a sport where players switch coaches, training partners, and even nationalities with surprising frequency, Sabalenka’s decision to stick with her original choice is genuinely noteworthy. Sure, it’s disappointing for fans who wanted to see her dominate another category, but it speaks to her character in a way that’s becoming increasingly rare in professional sports.

Will this loyalty pay off in the long run? Who knows. But at least we know that when Sabalenka gives her word, she means it – even when it costs her a potential title opportunity.