“Weakest pair,” Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Calls Carlos Alcaraz ‘Lost Puppy’ As She Gives Verdict on Emma Raducanu Link-up

Carlos Alcaraz is aiming for his fourth grass-court title at the Queen's, where Emma Raducanu lost to Qinwen Zheng.

“Weakest pair,” Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Calls Carlos Alcaraz ‘Lost Puppy’ As She Gives Verdict on Emma Raducanu Link-up

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

Carlos Alcaraz made a special request to Emma Raducanu to pair up for this year’s mixed doubles event. Serena Williams‘ former coach Rennae Stubbs, however, doesn’t think the pair would be successful.

Both Alcaraz and Raduanu have tasted success at the US Open in singles. Raducanu scripted history when she lifted the title in 2021 as a qualifier. A year later, Alcaraz became the US Open champion.

This year’s US Open mixed doubles will be held during the qualifying rounds because of which, many top players have signed up for it. Alcaraz’s arch-rival Jannik Sinner will be playing alongside Emma Navarro, while Iga Swiatek will be with Casper Ruud. Stubbs thinks Sinner and Navarro would perform well but the Alcaraz-Raducanu pair she called the weakest, along with the team of Swiatek and Ruud. She said on her The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast:

I would argue that they [Alcaraz and Raducanu] are – and this is nothing against either of them, just talking from a perspective of doubles everybody, don’t lose your minds, because you all know how I feel about both of them. I have talked about them both very glowingly over the last couple of years. That is the weakest pair.

Alcaraz last played a doubles match at the Laver Cup along with Taylor Fritz. He had also paired up with his idol Rafael Nadal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and had reached the quarterfinals.

Carlos, I saw him play doubles with Rafa and he was like a little lost puppy out there. Didn’t know where to hit the ball half the time or where to stand on the court and as great a player as he is, and he is arguably the best in the world right now, I don’t know how his doubles acumen is.

Rennae Stubbs added

Raducanu hasn’t yet reached a final since that fairytale run at Flushing Meadows. At the Miami Open this year, Raducanu clinched four consecutive wins, her best performance since that US Open win.

She recently participated at the Queen’s Club Championships but lost the quarterfinal to the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng. The Brit then withdrew from the Berlin Open because of fitness issues.

Carlos Alcaraz is chasing his fourth grass-court title at the Queen’s Club Championships

Carlos Alcaraz is participating at the Queen’s Club Championships to bid for his fifth title of the season following his victories in Rotterdam, Monte Carlo, Rome, and Paris. The Spaniard is also aiming for his fourth grass-court title in the ATP 500 event.

Carlos Alcaraz (3)
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

He first claimed a title on the surface at the Queen’s back in 2023 by beating Alex de Minaur, following which, he ruined Novak Djokovic‘s Calendar Slam goal by upsetting him in five sets in the Wimbledon final. Last year, the five-time Grand Slam champion lost to home favorite Jack Draper at the Queen’s but later defended his Wimbledon crown by breezing past the 24-time Grand Slam champion in straight sets.

At the Queen’s Club, Alcaraz went past Adam Walton in the first round before he knocked out compatriot Jaume Munar in the second round which lasted for more than three hours. Alcaraz will next meet Arthur Rinderknech, who he defeated twice, and will also be meeting him for the second time on grass after last year’s Queen’s event.

Before starting his campaign on the grass swing, the 22-year-old defended his French Open title by overcoming Jannik Sinner in five hours and 29 minutes. If Alcaraz reaches the Wimbledon final, he could once again set up a blockbuster clash with the three-time Grand Slam champion because he will be the second seed.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Wants to ‘Kill’ Novak Djokovic Because of ‘This’ Reason