Novak Djokovic reacts on social media after being knocked out of the US Open mixed doubles in the first round

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Novak Djokovic made his return to tennis in the US Open mixed doubles tournament.

The 38-year-old has not played since losing to Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the Wimbledon Championships in July.

Following the shorter and condensed format of the mixed doubles competition at Flushing Meadows, more top singles players took part.

One of them is Novak Djokovic, who played mixed doubles at the US Open for the first time in his illustrious two-decade career.

Novak Djokovic reacts on social media after losing in the opening round of the US Open mixed doubles event

Djokovic entered the US Open mixed doubles tournament alongside fellow Serbian Olga Danilovic.

The pair took on the all-Russian duo of Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev, but it did not go as well as Djokovic hoped.

The former world number one’s serve was broken at 2-2 in the first set before Medvedev successfully served it out.

Djokovic’s serve was then broken at 3-3 in the second set after a brilliant cross-court pass by Medvedev, before Andreeva held to love to complete a 4-2, 5-3 victory for her team.

Djokovic has since taken to Instagram to thank the US Open for offering him and Danilovic a wildcard to play mixed doubles this year.

“Always fun playing mixed doubles with Olga,” Djokovic wrote. “Thank you @usopen for the WC opportunity to play.”

Can Novak Djokovic win the US Open? Serena Williams’ former coach thinks so

Djokovic has not won a Grand Slam since beating Medvedev at the 2023 US Open.

Two years later, he is back at Flushing Meadows still aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title, which would break the tie with Margaret Court.

Djokovic has yet to make the final of a major this season, but he has one more opportunity in the Big Apple.

He has not played a singles match since Wimbledon, and he has not beaten defending US Open champion Jannik Sinner since 2023.

But Serena Williams’ former coach Rick Macci is not counting Djokovic out and thinks he can go all the way and lift a record-equalling fifth US Open crown.

“Does Novak have a shot to win the US Open? He has a shot because he has all the shots,” Macci posted on X.

“24 Slams in his back pocket, it depends on his body and how it affects each joint and socket. Never count out the heart of the rubber band man, when he has that magical stick in his hand.”