As the tennis world gears up for the 2025 US Open, the spotlight has shifted from the court to the personal lives of two of its brightest stars, Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz. The duo, set to compete together in the revamped US Open Mixed Doubles Championship on August 19, has sparked a frenzy of speculation about a possible romantic connection. Fans and social media have been abuzz, dissecting every shared glance and interaction, particularly after Raducanu was spotted cheering for Alcaraz at Wimbledon and Queen’s Club earlier this year. However, tennis legend Chris Evert has stepped in to douse the flames of these rumors with a candid dismissal, emphasizing the stark contrast between her own 1970s romance with Jimmy Connors and the purely platonic bond between Raducanu and Alcaraz.
The speculation surrounding Raducanu and Alcaraz intensified when they announced their partnership for the US Open’s high-profile mixed doubles event, a $1 million spectacle featuring a star-studded lineup including Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, and Venus Williams. Their chemistry, evident in a promotional video where they playfully disagreed over a coin toss—Raducanu calling “tails” and Alcaraz “heads” before dissolving into laughter—fueled fan theories of a budding romance. Social media platforms like Reddit and Tumblr have been flooded with thousands of posts, with Google Trends reporting a 2,250% surge in searches for “Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu” over the past 90 days, peaking after Raducanu’s appearance at Alcaraz’s Wimbledon match on July 6. Yet, Evert, a former world No. 1 and 18-time Grand Slam champion, was quick to shut down comparisons to her own high-profile engagement to Connors in the 1970s. “No, because they’re not having a relationship,” she told ESPN, her tone firm and unapologetic. “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.”
Evert’s comments come on the heels of earlier backlash she faced during Wimbledon 2025, where her commentary during Raducanu’s third-round match against Aryna Sabalenka drew criticism for focusing on the British star’s personal life rather than her performance. A fan on X accused Evert of prioritizing romance rumors, claiming, “You owe her an apology. We missed the first 4 games because of you gushing over Alcaraz … and what did you say when you finally cut back? You said, ‘I think he has a crush on someone on this court right now.’” Evert responded sharply with a two-word retort: “Oh, please.” The incident highlighted the intense scrutiny Raducanu faces, a pressure she addressed herself before Wimbledon. “I guess I’m like, it comes with the territory, people being so curious,” she told the Guardian, expressing bemusement at the fascination with her dating life. “I think they’re more curious about this news than any tennis results and tennis news.”
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, and Alcaraz, a five-time Grand Slam winner, have repeatedly clarified their relationship as a deep friendship forged during their breakout runs at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2021. “We’re just good friends,” Raducanu said with a smile at her pre-Wimbledon press conference, noting that their bond began when they were both 18 and navigating the tour’s pressures. “He’s so nice, very happy, amazing values and just a really positive light to be around,” she added, recalling how Alcaraz’s third-round upset over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2021 US Open inspired her own historic title run. Alcaraz echoed her sentiments, praising her talent: “She plays great. She’s struggling a little bit lately, but I’m pretty sure that she’s gonna get there. I have a lot of confidence in her.” He playfully noted her delay in agreeing to their doubles partnership, saying, “Gotta keep them on their toes!” to which Raducanu quipped, “I had to ask my team if they should play, but when he asked me, I was going to say yes.”
The pair’s upcoming match against top seeds Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula at Arthur Ashe Stadium promises to be a highlight of the US Open’s Fan Week, but the off-court narrative has at times overshadowed their athletic synergy. Evert, reflecting on her own era, expressed relief at avoiding today’s social media scrutiny. “Had [my relationship with Connors] played out in 2025, shippers and fan fiction writers would have had lots to say,” she remarked, underscoring the modern phenomenon of “shipping,” where fans root for celebrity pairings regardless of reality. Psychologist Alexandra Beth Solomon, cited in discussions about the Alcaraz-Raducanu phenomenon, explained this fascination as a “collective fascination with the ‘will they/won’t they’ concept,” akin to iconic fictional couples like Ross and Rachel from *Friends*.
As Raducanu and Alcaraz prepare to take the court, their focus remains on their shared goal of capturing the mixed doubles title, not fueling gossip. Raducanu’s recent climb to world No. 33 and Alcaraz’s Cincinnati Open triumph over Jannik Sinner—whom he described as a player who “makes you suffer since the first point of the match until the last ball”—signal their readiness for the challenge. With Evert’s blunt dismissal setting the record straight, the tennis world can refocus on what truly matters: the electric partnership of two young champions aiming to make history in New York.
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