Emma Raducanu, the British tennis sensation, has once again captured the attention of the tennis world, not just for her highly anticipated return to the court but for an unexpected new doubles partnership that has surprised many. While headlines have recently buzzed about her impending mixed doubles team-up with Spanish phenom Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open, Raducanu has quietly, yet significantly, formed another formidable pairing even sooner – with the reigning 2022 Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina.
The announcement of this collaboration for the women’s doubles draw at the Citi Open in Washington has sent ripples of excitement through the tennis community. It’s a move that showcases Raducanu’s increasing focus on doubles play, a strategic decision she believes will bolster her overall game, particularly her net skills. “I think the time I spent on the doubles court for sure helped me for my first round here, and I think it can improve my volley skills,” Raducanu recently commented, reflecting on her growing comfort in the doubles arena. She added, “Today I picked off a few great volleys, I wasn’t really thinking, but it happened, like, naturally and it was instinctive, and that could have maybe been a part of playing some dubs.”
This partnership with Rybakina is particularly intriguing. While both are Grand Slam singles champions, their paths have only crossed once in a competitive match, a memorable encounter in Sydney three-and-a-half years ago where Rybakina delivered one of the most dominant performances against Raducanu, winning 6-0, 6-1. Despite that history, the two appear to have developed a positive rapport off the court, even sharing practice sessions in Washington, a testament to the camaraderie often found within the professional circuit. They are set to face another British player, Olivia Nicholls, and her partner Tereza Mihalikova in their opening match, marking their first competitive outing as a pair.
This unexpected alliance comes hot on the heels of the much-discussed news that Raducanu will be joining forces with Carlos Alcaraz for the revitalized mixed doubles event at the US Open in August. That announcement alone had already set the tennis world abuzz, promising a “blockbuster” pairing of two of the sport’s most marketable and exciting young talents. Alcaraz himself confirmed their partnership, humorously noting that he had to “ask Emma if she wants to play doubles with me. I made that special request [but] she took a while. But obviously she had to ask, and she had to think a little bit. But it wasn’t a minute, so…” He expressed his excitement for the upcoming collaboration, emphasizing their existing good relationship: “I know Emma since a really long time ago, so we know each other. I have really good relationship with her. So it’s just going be interesting. We are going to enjoy it, for sure. We will try to win. But obviously it’s going to be really, really fun.”1
The2 decision to actively pursue doubles, both with Rybakina and Alcaraz, signals a deliberate strategic shift for Raducanu. Her initial foray into doubles at the Citi Open three years ago with Clara Tauson resulted in a first-round exit, and she largely steered clear of the format until this year. However, a recent successful run at Queen’s Club, where she and fellow Brit Katie Boulter reached the quarter-finals, seems to have reignited her interest and confidence in the format. This commitment to doubles is seen as a crucial step in refining elements of her game, particularly her net play and volleying, which are vital for success across all surfaces.
For fans, the prospect of seeing Raducanu collaborate with two such prominent players adds an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming tournaments. The pairing with Rybakina is an immediate test of her doubles acumen against a highly accomplished opponent, while the Alcaraz team-up at the US Open carries the tantalizing promise of “tennis royalty” and significant commercial appeal. As one sports finance expert noted, the Raducanu-Alcaraz pairing “certainly has brand alchemy as it has that tennis chemistry because they’ll obviously be able to win a fairly significant amount of money if they’re able to go far in the mixed doubles at the U.S. 3Open.”
Beyond the glitz and glamour, Raducanu’s journey back to peak form continues to be a central narrative. After a promising Wimbledon campaign where she pushed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, her return to Washington for the Citi Open marks another step in her hard-court season preparations leading up to the US Open, the site of her historic Grand Slam triumph. Her participation in both singles and doubles at these events underscores her dedication to rebuilding her game, one partnership and one match at a time. The tennis world watches with keen interest as Emma Raducanu embraces new challenges, proving that her quest for excellence extends beyond the singles court.
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