Aryna Sabalenka is warned her doubles partner will hold her back at the US Open later this year

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Aryna Sabalenka has been ranked number one in the world for 35 consecutive weeks as she continues to dominate the women’s game.

The Belarusian WTA star has won three singles Grand Slam titles in her career to date and qualified for both Major finals in 2025.

Unfortunately for Sabalenka, she lost to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final before coming up short against Coco Gauff in the French Open final.

She’ll have a great chance to add a fourth Slam to her collection at Wimbledon next month, but may already have one eye on the US Open in August, an event she’ll head to as the defending champion.

Sabalenka will, in fact, have two shots at Grand Slam success in New York, as her participation in the new mixed doubles US Open tournament was confirmed recently.

Her choice of partner has, however, been questioned, as two former ATP stars suggest he may ‘hold her back’.

John Isner says Grigor Dimitrov may hold Aryna Sabalenka back at the US Open later this year

During the latest edition of the Nothing Major podcast, John Isner and Sam Querrey discussed Sabalenka’s decision to partner up with Grigor Dimitrov at the US Open.

“I feel like [Grigor] Dimitrov is going to hold that team back,” said Isner.

“That’s what I think too! No offence Grigor, but I feel like Sabalenka could have done a little better,” added Querrey.

While Sabalenka has held the number one ranking for the entirety of 2025, Dimitrov has struggled on the ATP Tour, and is currently ranked 19th in the world.

The Bulgarian has also developed a concerning problem at Grand Slam events, retiring due to injury at his last four tournaments.

• 2025 French Open 1R – Grigor Dimitrov lost to Ethan Quinn, 6-2, 6-3, 2-6, 0-0 (RET)
• 2025 Australian Open 1R – Grigor Dimitrov lost to Francesco Passaro, 5-7, 1-2 (RET)
• 2024 US Open QF – Grigor Dimitrov lost to Frances Tiafoe, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 1-4 (RET)
• 2024 Wimbledon 4R – Grigor Dimitrov lost to Daniil Medvedev, 3-5 (RET)

Sabalenka will certainly be hoping her partner avoids the same fate at Flushing Meadows as the pair look to bring home the trophy.

The Nothing Major hosts also took the time to share their thoughts on several other US Open mixed doubles teams.

Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro

“Wow. What’s the connection there? Who texted who first?” asked Isner.

Lorenzo Musetti and Jasmine Paolini

“No offence to them but I don’t see them taking the title,” said Querrey.

Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina

“This team could win it,” claimed Querrey.

Frances Tiafoe and Madison Keys

“They will have a good time, but I don’t think they will win. I feel like Frances [Tiafoe] will take as an exhibition more than half a million dollar paycheck,” said Steve Johnson.

Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek

“I don’t love that team to make a run,” said Querrey.

Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic

“[Olga] Danilovic is sneaky good, a sneaky good lefty,” added Querrey.

Ben Shelton and Taylor Townsend

“I feel like they are a top two favourite,” said Johnson.

16 teams will compete in total, as the tournament attempts to revive doubles in 2025.

Querrey, Isner, Johnson, and Jack Sock then named the pairs they think will be the most ‘exciting’ to watch later this year.

“For me, it’s Emma [Navarro] and [Jannik] Sinner,” said Isner.

“I will go with [Taylor] Fritz and [Elena] Rybakina,” added Sock.

“For me I’m going [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Emma] Raducanu. It’s just electric,” said Querrey.

“I’m going with [Ben] Shelton and [Taylor] Townsend. They are going to be insane,” suggested Johnson.

It remains to be seen who will come out on top, but it will certainly be worth tuning in for when the tournament begins on Tuesday, August 19.

Aryna Sabalenka’s Grand Slam success in doubles

Sabalenka has been warned that Dimitrov may hold her back at the US Open later this year, but she’ll be confident of a strong showing, having already accomplished great things in doubles.

Partnering Belgium’s Elise Mertens, Sabalenka won two Grand Slam doubles titles, the first of which came in New York, six years ago.

• 2019 US Open F – Aryna Sabalenka/Elise Mertens beat Victoria Azarenka/Ashleigh Barty
• 2021 Australian Open F – Aryna Sabalenka/Elise Mertens beat Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova

Having moved away from doubles as her singles career kicked into gear, it will be interesting to see how she performs on her return to the discipline in 2025.

She won’t want to get too far ahead of herself, however, as she first focuses on the task at hand, a first-round tie with Rebeca Masarova in Berlin on Wednesday, June 18.