“People Would Rather See Carlos Alcaraz Than Me,” Mixed Doubles Player Finds US Open Rule Change Shocking

Carlos Alcaraz, who has paired up with Emma Raducanu, will be playing the mixed doubles at the US Open for the first time.

“People Would Rather See Carlos Alcaraz Than Me,” Mixed Doubles Player Finds US Open Rule Change Shocking

Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP/X)

Carlos Alcaraz will be playing the mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu. This year’s mixed doubles have been moved to the qualifying rounds, and this attracted the top players, including Alcaraz, who made a “special request” to the Brit to join him for the event.

Although fans are excited to see the top players in mixed doubles, the US Open’s decision shocked two-time Grand Slam winner Edouard Roger-Vasselin. The Frenchman, who won the doubles and mixed doubles at Roland Garros in 2014 and 2024, respectively, made his feelings known about the whole thing during an interview with Eurosport France.

It’s obvious that people would rather see Carlos Alcaraz play than me. But the form is a bit shocking. The moral, once again, is that the Grand Slams really do what they want. Touching mixed doubles, for most people, is perhaps not a big deal. But what’s the next steps?

The 41-year-old was last seen in action at the Eastbourne International. He played doubles with Hugo Nys but the pair was defeated in the quarterfinal by the British pair of Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury.

Alcaraz, on the other hand, is in London preparing to defend Wimbledon for the second time. In the previous two seasons, he lifted the title by beating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

Both Alcaraz and Raducanu won the US Open as teenagers. Raducanu scripted history when she emerged victorious in the 2021 US Open as a qualifier, and the following year, Alcaraz tasted success at Flushing Meadows.

Since their first Major wins, while Raducanu failed to reach another singles final, Alcaraz clinched four more Grand Slam titles, including this year’s French Open by beating World No.1 Jannik Sinner. Raducanu recently lost to Maya Joint in the fourth round of the Eastbourne International. Next, she will play at Wimbledon, where she has never progressed beyond the fourth round.

Mats Wilander is convinced that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will become the greatest players of all time

For sure, it will not be easy to forget this year’s dramatic French Open final, given that a high level of tennis was produced by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. It kept the watchers of the game on the edge of their seats as momentum kept shifting throughout the match.

Jannik Sinner Carlos Alcaraz Roland Garros French Open 2025
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (Image via Roland Garros/X)

After taking the first two sets off Alcaraz, Sinner squandered three championship points in the fourth set. Before this final, the Italian never dropped a set, but against the 22-year-old, he ended up losing three.

The match didn’t end before five hours and 29 minutes. For former player Mats Wilander, the final was the best he has ever seen “in terms of drama and of the level“. He told TNT Sports that he is convinced that the two rivals are GOAT (greatest of all time) contenders.

The level will be so high that I think we’re going to see it over and over again, and we’re going to get used to it and just have to realize that this is a very, very special rivalry we have in front of us. I think we have to start to understand that we are actually watching somebody who could become among the greatest players of all time in both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

The tennis world could again see an Alcaraz-Sinner final if both the players progress to the Wimbledon final. Wimbledon is the only tournament where Sinner hasn’t yet reached the summit clash.

In 2023, Novak Djokovic knocked him out of the tournament in the semifinals, while last year, Daniil Medvedev ended his run in the quarterfinals. Sinner will be chasing his second title of the season at SW19. He has won just the Australian Open, while Alcaraz will be aiming to capture his sixth title of the season.

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