As the 2025 US Open approaches, British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu is gearing up for an electrifying mixed doubles showdown in New York, partnering with close friend and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. Their opponents? None other than Jessica Pegula, dubbed the world’s richest tennis star due to her father Terry Pegula’s staggering £5.4 billion fortune, and British No. 1 Jack Draper. This high-stakes encounter, set to kick off the revamped mixed doubles event before the main tournament, promises to blend fierce competition with personal narratives, as Pegula recently shared her candid thoughts on Raducanu’s resilience and talent.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, captured the world’s attention at just 18 by becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam, defeating Leylah Fernandez in straight sets. Now 22, she’s no stranger to pressure, having navigated a rollercoaster career marked by historic triumphs and injury setbacks. Her 2021 victory at Flushing Meadows, where she didn’t drop a single set across 10 matches, remains a benchmark for her potential. However, injuries to her wrists and ankle sidelined her for much of 2023, forcing her to miss key tournaments like Wimbledon and the French Open. Despite these challenges, Raducanu’s 2025 season has shown flashes of brilliance, including a career-best quarter-final run at the Miami Open, where she defeated top-10 player Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova. Her recent performances have reignited belief in her ability to compete at the highest level.
Jessica Pegula, the world No. 5 and top seed alongside Draper in the mixed doubles event, has been a formidable presence on the WTA tour. The 31-year-old American, whose wealth stems from her father’s oil and gas empire and ownership of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, reached a Grand Slam final in 2024 and boasts three WTA 1000 titles. Pegula’s praise for Raducanu underscores the Brit’s tenacity. “When she’s playing at a top level, she belongs with the top players,” Pegula said, acknowledging Raducanu’s potential to dominate when in form. She reflected on Raducanu’s struggles with injuries, noting, “I just think she struggled a little bit with injuries. It’s tough nowadays; the depth is so good. If you can’t really rack in those matches and play a lot and get those wins under your belt, it can be really difficult to keep that confidence.” Pegula’s empathy shone through as she added, “I can understand why she was probably a little emotional. Winning two matches at a WTA 1000, beating a top 10 player—that’s massive. Sometimes it takes a physical and mental battle to get through that.”
The mixed doubles event, now scheduled before the main draw on Tuesday and Wednesday, has been overhauled for 2025, offering a £750,000 prize for the winning pair in a 16-team competition. Raducanu and Alcaraz, granted a wildcard entry, face a daunting challenge against the top-seeded Pegula and Draper, both ranked in the top five in singles. The withdrawal of original partners Paula Badosa and Tommy Paul reshuffled the pairings, setting the stage for this blockbuster clash. Raducanu’s chemistry with Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, could be a game-changer, but Pegula and Draper’s experience and firepower make them formidable foes.
Raducanu’s journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. After her 2021 US Open triumph, she faced intense scrutiny, lucrative endorsements, and a revolving door of coaches, with recent splits from Nick Cavaday and Vlado Platenik. Yet, her 2024 Eastbourne victory over Pegula, a grueling 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-5 battle, proved her mettle. “I am pretty drained right now, but I just want to say thanks to everyone again for getting me through some really difficult moments in that match,” Raducanu said post-match, emphasizing its significance. “It is incredibly difficult when you are playing someone so in form like Jessica. I am really pleased with how I managed to navigate some really tough situations.” That win, her first against a top-10 player on grass, marked a turning point, boosting her confidence ahead of Wimbledon.
Off the court, Raducanu has faced challenges, including unsettling incidents with fixated individuals, one of whom was banned from WTA events after disrupting her match in Dubai in February 2025. Despite these distractions, she’s leaned on trusted figures like former coach Mark Petchey and LTA’s Jane O’Donoghue, who’ve helped her rediscover her “free spirit” on the court. “This week, I have amazing people who have known me for a very long time,” Raducanu shared after her Miami Open run. “I feel very secure and happy and wanting to fight for them, as well.”
As the US Open mixed doubles clash looms, Raducanu’s blend of grit, creativity, and raw talent will be tested against Pegula’s polished game and Draper’s rising star power. With the tennis world watching, this match is more than a prelude to the main draw—it’s a chance for Raducanu to reclaim her narrative and prove she’s back among the elite, ready to add another chapter to her remarkable story.
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