Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is no stranger to making headlines, but her recent foray into doubles tennis has added a new layer of intrigue to her 2025 season. At the Queen’s Club Championships in June, the 22-year-old British star secured her first-ever doubles victory alongside compatriot Katie Boulter, defeating Xinyu Jiang and Fang-Hsien Wu 6-4, 6-2. The win marked a significant milestone for Raducanu, who admitted to feeling out of her depth in the format, a candid revelation that has raised eyebrows as she prepares to team up with World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz for the mixed doubles at the 2025 US Open. Her post-match comments, reflecting both excitement and uncertainty, offer a glimpse into her evolving journey and hint at challenges that could impact their high-profile partnership.
Raducanu’s debut doubles triumph at Queen’s was a moment of joy, but her honesty about the experience stole the spotlight. “I didn’t necessarily know what to do,” she confessed after the match, revealing her nerves and lack of familiarity with doubles tactics. The admission came as she and Boulter, the British No. 1, showcased a promising chemistry, leveraging Raducanu’s powerful groundstrokes and Boulter’s steady net play to dominate their opponents. Despite the straight-sets victory, Raducanu’s uncertainty about the nuances of doubles—such as positioning and communication—underscored her limited experience in the format. The pair’s run ended in the second round against Erin Routliffe and Lyudmyla Kichenok, but the debut win was a confidence booster for Raducanu, who has been rebuilding her game after a challenging few years marked by injuries and coaching changes.
The Queen’s victory was only Raducanu’s second competitive doubles outing, following a first-round loss at the 2022 Washington Open with Clara Tauson. Her sparse doubles resume contrasts sharply with her singles pedigree, where she made history as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open, defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 without dropping a set. That meteoric rise, at just 18, propelled her to global stardom, but subsequent wrist and ankle surgeries in 2023 sidelined her for months, dropping her ranking outside the top 100. Now, at World No. 46, Raducanu is rediscovering her form, with notable 2025 performances including a quarterfinal run at the Miami Open and a competitive Wimbledon loss to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. “I think I did make good progress in the last few months, 100%, with the consistency and the work I’ve been doing,” she said after Wimbledon, reflecting her renewed focus.
Her upcoming US Open mixed doubles partnership with Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has generated immense excitement, but her Queen’s comments may give the Spaniard pause. Alcaraz, while more experienced in doubles with 13 career matches, including a quarterfinal run with Rafael Nadal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is no doubles specialist. Raducanu’s admitted inexperience—“I was nervous… I didn’t necessarily know what to do”—could complicate their dynamic, especially in the high-pressure environment of Flushing Meadows. The duo’s limited preparation time, given Raducanu’s focus on singles and Alcaraz’s packed schedule, adds another layer of uncertainty. Yet, their combined star power and aggressive playing styles promise a thrilling spectacle, provided they can sync on court.
Raducanu’s journey to the 2025 US Open has been about balancing growth with enjoyment. After Queen’s, she spoke of rediscovering her love for tennis: “I’m just really into it at the moment. I love the sport.” This mindset, coupled with her work with coaches like Mark Petchey, who she praised as “11 out of 10,” has fueled her resurgence. Her doubles venture, though, is a new frontier, requiring quick adaptation to a format where communication and teamwork are paramount. “I’m a bit of a free spirit,” she said in Miami, hinting at her preference for instinct over structure, which could either spark magic or create challenges with Alcaraz.
As the US Open approaches, Raducanu’s Queen’s win and candid reflections highlight her willingness to embrace new challenges, even if they come with growing pains. For Alcaraz, her inexperience might be a concern, but her fearless baseline game and Grand Slam pedigree could make them a formidable pair. “It’s going to take me a few days to process. But it really motivates me,” she said after her Wimbledon loss, a sentiment that could apply to her doubles journey. Whether their partnership yields a fairytale run or a learning curve, Raducanu’s openness about her doubles debut has only heightened anticipation for what’s to come at Flushing Meadows.
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