Christopher Meloni Surprises Mariska Hargitay as They Attend US Open with Their Spouses

Photo: David Dow/AP

Chris MeloniandMariska Hargitayenjoyed each other’s company during an evening off from filming their respectiveLaw & Ordershows.

Meloni, 60, surprised his formerSpecial Victims Unitcostar, 57, with a friendly kiss on the forehead on Friday, as he arrived in the Grey Goose box at the US Open to watch Novak Djokovic take on Alexander Zverev. Although Hargitay knew her longtime scene partner would be in attendance, she reportedly wasn’t aware they’d be seated in the same box.

During the match, Hargitay sat next to husbandPeter Hermann, 54, as Meloni popped up in the row behind them, arriving with his wifeSherman Williams, 61. The group cheered on Djokovic, who prevailed over Zverev, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, during the semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Hargitay and Meloni starred together in the first 12 seasons ofLaw & Order: SVU, from 1999 to 2011, before he left the show. Meloni opened up last month about thecontract negotiationsthat sparked his exit.

David Dow/AP

“I was just so sad, because westarted this thing and built it together,” Hargitay told PEOPLE of her costar’s departure in February. “And we went through so many milestones and spent so much time together and understood so many things that nobody else could understand.”

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Meloni and Hargitay previously opened up to PEOPLE about their onscreen chemistry and reuniting in front of the camera for the crossover event that alsobrought Meloni back toSVUfor several episodes. “It was Pavlovian: Ring that bell, and youget right into Stabler and Benson,” he said in February.

“There was so much shorthand between us, which all goes back to the trust we have,” Hargitay mused. “He’s always made me feel like I could just jump off the ledge, the cliff, the bridge, and he would catch me, in so many ways, whether it was comedy or acting or friendship.” Meloni added: “It’s simple. We have each other’s back.”

“Obviously, we recognized it when we were together onSVU,” he added. “We were always kind of toying with that, leaning into that, teasing with that.”

source: people.com