The tennis world is abuzz with excitement and speculation as Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz, two of the sport’s brightest young stars, prepare to team up for mixed doubles at the 2025 US Open, set to kick off on August 24. The announcement of their partnership, made on June 17, sent social media into a tailspin, with fans coining terms like “Alcaranu” and “Raducaraz” while speculating about a possible romance between the 22-year-old Grand Slam champions. Raducanu, the 2021 US Open women’s singles champion, swiftly addressed the rumors with her trademark wit, telling reporters, “I’m glad the internet is having fun and we’re providing some entertainment for everyone.” As the duo gears up for their debut on the Flushing Meadows courts, their longstanding friendship and mutual admiration take center stage, promising a thrilling spectacle both on and off the court.
Raducanu and Alcaraz’s bond traces back to the summer of 2021, when both were 18-year-old prodigies navigating the pressures of Wimbledon. “We both started getting to know each other when I had that little run at Wimbledon and he had the five-set match in the first round,” Raducanu recalled. That year, she reached the fourth round at the All England Club, while Alcaraz made waves by pushing top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to five sets. Their paths crossed again at the US Open, where Raducanu made history as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam, becoming the youngest major champion since Maria Sharapova in 2004. Alcaraz, who won the men’s title a year later in 2022, has since amassed five Grand Slam titles, including the 2025 French Open, where he outlasted Jannik Sinner in the longest final in Roland Garros history. “He’s done so well obviously and continued winning. It’s been amazing to see,” Raducanu said, reflecting on her friend’s meteoric rise.
The decision to pair up for mixed doubles came from Alcaraz himself, who reached out to Raducanu earlier this year. “He asked me earlier on in the year,” she revealed. “I was very surprised and honored and obviously very excited.” After consulting her coach, Raducanu didn’t hesitate: “Of course I was going to say ‘yes.’” Alcaraz, equally enthusiastic, grinned as he told reporters, “She’s going to be the boss!” He added, “I have a really good relationship with her,” emphasizing the fun and camaraderie behind their decision. Their chemistry was evident during a recent Evian-sponsored event at Wimbledon, where they were seen practicing volleys and joking together, further fueling fan speculation. Raducanu, however, was quick to clarify their bond at a pre-Wimbledon press conference on June 28, smiling as she stated, “We’re just good friends.” When the moderator cut off further questions, she laughed, quipping, “Way to wrap up!”
Their friendship, forged through shared experiences as teenage sensations, has endured despite their diverging career paths. Alcaraz, now world number two, has maintained a relentless ascent, defending his Wimbledon title in 2025 with a straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic. Raducanu, ranked 38th, has faced a tougher road, battling wrist, ankle, and back injuries since her 2021 triumph. “Truthfully, I don’t expect much from myself this year. I know I’ve just been dealing with certain things,” she admitted before Wimbledon, where she fell to top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round. Despite the loss, she embraced the moment, posting on Instagram, “Many feelings to compute but that was a mega night to have been part of.” Her resilience and steady climb from a low of 289 in 2023 have earned her admiration, with Alcaraz praising her potential: “She plays great. I’m pretty sure that she’s gonna get there.”
The US Open mixed doubles event, featuring star-studded pairs like Novak Djokovic and Ana Danilovic, Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios, and Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa, is designed to captivate fans with its blend of star power and unpredictability. For Raducanu, it’s her first professional mixed doubles outing, following a recent doubles debut with Katie Boulter at Queen’s, dubbed “Boultercanu.” Alcaraz, who partnered Rafael Nadal in doubles at the 2024 Olympics and Davis Cup, brings more experience but remains a relative novice in the format. “It’s going to be great,” he said, his excitement palpable. Their partnership, rooted in a friendship that began when “neither had won anything,” as Raducanu put it, promises to blend her gritty baseline game with his dynamic all-court flair.
As the tennis world awaits their New York debut, the “Sincaraz” rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner may take a backseat to the “Alcaranu” buzz. Raducanu’s presence at Alcaraz’s matches, including his Queen’s Club title run, and their shared sponsor events have only amplified the chatter. Yet, both players remain focused on their craft, with Alcaraz openly single—“No, I am single. It can be difficult as a tennis player to meet the right person because you are travelling all the time,” he told The Times in 2024—and Raducanu fresh off a breakup with Carlo Agostinelli in 2024. Their story is one of camaraderie, not romance, proving that in tennis, friendship can be just as compelling as competition.
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