Emma Raducanu Reveals Why She Kept Carlos Alcaraz Waiting to Say ‘Yes’ for Dream Link-up

Carlos Alcaraz, who won the 2022 US Open will be playing mixed doubles with 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu this year.

Emma Raducanu Reveals Why She Kept Carlos Alcaraz Waiting to Say ‘Yes’ for Dream Link-up

Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Raducanu News)

Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu have joined forces for this year’s US Open mixed doubles. Raducanu, during her Eastbourne International campaign, talked about her relationship with the Spaniard.

She believes she and Alcaraz are providing entertainment to the fans who think the two are dating. Raducanu, who recently attended one of Alcaraz’s matches at the Queen’s Club Championships, revealed why she took time to say “yes” to the “special request” of Alcaraz.

It was Alcaraz who approached her first for the mixed-doubles team-up. But he said that the Brit took some time to agree to it.

Gotta keep them on their toes! I mean, of course, I had to ask my team if they wanted me to play. But for me, when he asked me, I was going to say yes, I just had to kind of go through the formality of asking my coach, so I didn’t just make the decision.

Emma Raducanu told BBC Sports

Both Raducanu and Alcaraz are US Open champions in singles. Raducanu became the winner at Flushing Meadows in 2021, scripting history as she won the final as a teenager and also as a qualifier.

A year later in New York, Alcaraz tasted success for the first time in a Major event. But since Raducanu’s fairytale run, she failed to reach another singles final with her best performance since that campaign coming in this year’s Miami Open as she made it to the quarterfinals and lost the match to eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula.

Nick Kyrgios thinks there’s something going on between Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu sparked dating rumors when she was spotted watching one of Carlos Alcaraz‘s matches. After losing her quarterfinal match to 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng, Raducanu was in the stands of the Andy Murray Arena watching Alcaraz beat compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut.

Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz
Emma Raducanu, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/We Are Tennis, The Tennis Letter)

Now Nick Kyrgios thinks something is going on between them. The Aussie, who lost the 2022 Wimbledon final to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, won’t be returning to the event this year because of an injury. Recently during an interview with talkSPORT, Kyrgios smiled when he talked about Alcaraz and Raducanu.

It’s so hard in this day and age. She won a Grand Slam at 19 years old and what comes with that, all the things off the court. There is a lot of responsibility for someone like that. But her and Alcaraz – I think there is a little bit going on there! I don’t know.

Kyrgios made his return to tennis after 18 months at the Brisbane International this season. But he didn’t secure his first win before the Miami Open.

He lost his opening round matches in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Indian Wells, before defeating Mackenzie McDonald to reach the Miami Open second round. Because of an injury problem, the 30-year-old withdrew from the French Open.

Alcaraz, on the other hand, defended his title at Roland Garros by beating World No.1 Jannik Sinner in five sets. He then kick-started his campaign on the grass swing at the Queen’s Club Championships, only to continue his winning ways by reaching the final and beating Jiri Lehecka to win his fourth title on the surface.

His next target will be to defend his title at Wimbledon. The five-time Grand Slam champion will be entering the third Major of the season as the two-time defending champion. Alcaraz will also be chasing his fifth title of the season at Wimbledon.

In the last two seasons, the Murcia native beat Djokovic in the finals. Raducanu has never progressed beyond the fourth round of Wimbledon. Last year, New Zealand’s Lulu Sun knocked her out of the last 16.

Also read: Nick Kyrgios Slams BBC for Axing him from Wimbledon Coverage