The tennis world is abuzz with anticipation as Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz, two of the sport’s brightest stars, team up for the revamped 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship. Scheduled for August 19-20 at Flushing Meadows, this star-studded event promises high-octane action with a $1 million prize on the line. However, their participation hangs in the balance due to a grueling schedule clash with the Cincinnati Open final, setting the stage for a dramatic buildup to their first-round match against top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper. Here’s everything you need to know about when they’re playing, how to watch, and the challenges they face.
The mixed doubles tournament, reimagined to attract top singles players, kicks off on Tuesday, August 19, at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Raducanu and Alcaraz, both Grand Slam champions—she in 2021 at the US Open and he in 2022 at the same event—are set to face British No. 1 Jack Draper and American star Jessica Pegula in a blockbuster first-round match. This clash is scheduled third on Arthur Ashe Stadium, with play not starting before 2:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. BST). The day’s action begins at 11:00 a.m. local time (4:00 p.m. BST), with other notable matches like Naomi Osaka and Gael Monfils versus Lorenzo Musetti and Caty McNally, and defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori against Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina.
Fans in the UK can catch the action live on Sky Sports Tennis (channel 407) or Sky Sports+ (channel 410 for Sky Glass, 412 for Sky Q, or 416 in Ireland). The Sky Sports app also offers streaming via event centers, with coverage extending to the main US Open tournament from August 24 to September 7. In the United States, ESPN will broadcast the mixed doubles, ensuring global access to this electrifying event. Comprehensive coverage includes live text commentary, scores, reports, and analysis on the Sky Sports website and app, making it easy to follow every serve and volley.
The tournament’s format is designed for fast-paced thrills, featuring best-of-three sets with first-to-four games in the early rounds, sudden-death deuce, and a 10-point tiebreak at 4-4 or in lieu of a third set. The final, set for Wednesday, August 20, will use six-game sets but retain the no-ad scoring and tiebreak structure. The event, held on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums, wraps up with a night session on Wednesday, starting at 7:00 p.m. local time (12:00 a.m. BST on Thursday, August 21).
The Raducanu-Alcaraz partnership, dubbed “Alcaranu” by fans, has sparked excitement since its announcement. “I’ve known Emma since a long time ago – I have a really good relationship with her so it’s going to be interesting,” Alcaraz said, hinting at their chemistry forged during their breakout 2021 seasons. Raducanu, reflecting on their bond, noted, “He’s so nice, very happy, amazing values and just a really positive light to be around.” Yet, their participation is uncertain due to Alcaraz’s Cincinnati Open final against Jannik Sinner on Monday, August 18. The extended Cincinnati schedule, concluding just 24 hours before the mixed doubles, poses a logistical challenge, with a two-hour flight from Ohio to New York and recovery demands threatening Alcaraz’s readiness. “I’m ready to take the challenge,” Alcaraz said of the Sinner matchup, but the tight turnaround raises doubts.
Raducanu, managing back spasms that forced her withdrawal from the Berlin Open, remains optimistic. “It’s OK. I have good days and bad days with it,” she said, detailing treatments like acupuncture and muscle stimulation. Her recent doubles experience, including a semi-final run in Washington with Elena Rybakina, suggests she’s ready to shine. Alcaraz, who skipped the Canadian Open to recover from a post-Wimbledon injury, is also prioritizing his singles campaign, starting August 24, adding pressure to their doubles commitment.
The draw is stacked with talent, including Novak Djokovic with Olga Danilovic, Iga Swiatek with Casper Ruud, and Sinner with Katerina Siniakova, who also faces a Cincinnati conflict. If Raducanu and Alcaraz advance, they could meet Djokovic and Danilovic or Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev in the second round. The $1 million prize, a massive increase from 2024’s $200,000, has drawn criticism from doubles specialists like Errani and Vavassori, who called the format a “profound injustice” for sidelining traditional players. Despite the controversy, the event’s star power and condensed schedule promise a spectacle, with Raducanu and Alcaraz at the heart of the excitement—if they can overcome the odds.
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