Elena Rybakina Wishes to Play Against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in US Open Mixed Doubles

Elena Rybakina will be teaming up with men's World No.4 Taylor Fritz for this year's US Open mixed doubles.

Elena Rybakina Wishes to Play Against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in US Open Mixed Doubles

Carlos Alcaraz, Elena Rybakina, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, Mubadala Citi Open, Jannik Sinner HQ)

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Top players from both the ATP and the WTA will be playing mixed doubles at the US Open because this year’s mixed doubles have been moved to the qualifying weeks. Elena Rybakina will be competing along with last year’s US Open runner-up, Taylor Fritz.

Both Rybakina and Fritz are in Washington for the Citi Open. They have both reached the quarterfinals in their respective category. Rybakina kick-started her match against Victoria Mboko, whom she defeated with a 6-3, 7-5 scoreline.

At the press conference, the Kazakh ace was asked who she wants to play at the mixed doubles, and her answer was: men’s World No.1 Jannik Sinner and World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner has paired up with Emma Navarro, while the Spaniard will be playing alongside Emma Raducanu.

I mean… depends (laughing). I think Sinner, Alcaraz definitely. To see how they hit and feel how the ball is coming. But it’s not easy with each player there.

Sinner and Alcaraz are not participating in the Citi Open, and both of them have pulled out of the Canadian Open, which is scheduled to start on July 27. They instead will be kick-starting their campaigns in the States at the Cincinnati Open, which the Italian ace will be aiming to win for the second time in a row. Alcaraz suffered an opening-round exit in Montreal last year.

At the US Open, Rybakina has never progressed beyond the third round, reaching the stage in 2021 and 2023. Sinner will be entering Flushing Meadows as the defending champion.

Alcaraz, the winner here in 2022, was defeated in the second round last year by Botic van de Zandschulp. Sinner will be chasing his third Major of the season at the US Open (following the Australian Open and Wimbledon), while the five-time Grand Slam champion will be bidding to win his second (after the French Open). They were the finalists in Paris and London.

Elena Rybakina makes her feelings known on Emma Raducanu

Elena Rybakina is also playing doubles at the Citi Open. She has paired up with Emma Raducanu, and they have progressed to the semifinals after beating Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi in the quarterfinals.

Elena Rybakina, Emma Raducanu
Elena Rybakina, Emma Raducanu (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

In the last four, they will meet the second seeds, Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai. Rybakina, at the press conference, expressed her wish to play more doubles with the 22-year-old.

Yeah, I think she’s a really nice girl. It was a lot of fun. Of course, tough match, but I’m happy that I played doubles, and I think it’s good as a practice, preparation for singles. So it was fun, and yeah, hopefully we can play a bit more in the future too.

Raducanu, too, has progressed to the quarterfinals in singles. She started her campaign by knocking out Marta Kostyuk before defeating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2. The Brit will next lock horns with Maria Sakkari, against whom she has played three matches, winning all.

The upcoming match will be their second encounter this season, following the Dubai Open first round, which Raducanu had won in straight sets. Before scheduling the match against the former World No.10, the Greek ace eliminated Emma Navarro in straight sets.

Rybakina, on the other hand, will face Magdalena Frech, who ended seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams‘ campaign. The 26-year-old has met the fifth seed twice, winning both.

If Rybakina reaches the semifinals, she will meet the winner of the match between Townsend and Leylah Fernandez. In the championship clash, the 2022 Wimbledon could face these players: Raducanu, Sakkari, Anna Kalinskaya, or Clara Tauson. Rybakina is chasing her second title of the season following her Strasbourg Open, while Raducanu is searching for her second title of her career after her 2021 US Open triumph.

Also read: Martina Navratilova Doffs Her Hat to Venus Williams for Silencing Critics at the Washington Open