Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz took to the Arthur Ashe Stadium court on Tuesday for the Mixed Doubles event at the U.S. Open amid much speculation that the young pair is romantically involved.
Their new partnership lasted just 51 minutes as they were escorted out of the tournament by the top-seeded team of American Jessica Pegula and Brit Jack Draper, 4-2, 4-2, in the abbreviated format.
Alcaraz drew oohs and aahs from the crowd with an around-the-netpost forehand winner that was a highlight of the match. Raducanu let out a big smile and slapped her partner’s hand after the shot.
As for the nature of their relationship, both players have denied there is anything romantic going on.
“I guess it comes with the territory, people being so curious,” Raducanu, the 2021 U.S. Open singles champion, said earlier this week.
“I think they’re more curious about this news than any tennis results and tennis news. But I just keep to myself, my private life to one side.
“It’s always funny when people try to find something out, but I try not to read into it so much.”
Chrissie Evert, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, knows something about being involved with a fellow tennis player. She and Jimmy Connors were engaged in 1974 and when both players won Wimbledon singles titles that year, they were dubbed the “Love Double.”
However, Evert dismissed any comparisons between her and Connors and Raducanu and Alcaraz.
“No, because they’re not having a relationship,” she told ESPN.
“I’m so glad I came up in the ’70s, not in this day and age. Because, I mean, jeez, you’re controversial and talked about no matter what you do.”
Raducanu and Alcaraz are now out of the controversial 16-team Mixed Doubles event that features a $1 million prize. Some critics have called out the U.S. Open for staging an exhibition featuring singles stars at the expense of true doubles players.
In Wednesday’s semifinals, Draper and Pegula will face Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, while Americans Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison will face defending U.S. Open champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.
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