Carlos Alcaraz jokes Emma Raducanu 'will be boss' in US Open mixed doubles dash
The contest is scheduled for the week prior to the main tournament, although there were initial concerns about whether the duo would be able to participate.
Alcaraz, aged 22, was just in action at the Cincinnati Open yesterday. He initially led 5-0 against Jannik Sinner, who ultimately withdrew from the match due to illness.
Shortly after collecting his trophy and fulfilling his media obligations, Alcaraz hopped on a private jet with Iga Swiatek to make it to the doubles tournament. His journey spanned over 600 miles from Cincinnati to New York.
Asked about the revamped event ahead of his mammoth journey, Alcaraz said: "It's good. The scheduling is not the best to be honest, playing tomorrow. But the concept of the mixed doubles, I love it.
"It's going to be new for me, which I love. I'm going to have so much fun, playing with Emma. I will try to enjoy as much as I can. I will try to see how the court is going to be, the balls, everything.
"I will treat it as a really important and good preparation for me. I will try to be at my best tomorrow after the trip to New York. I'm probably going to sleep late, but I will try to bring my best tennis to help Emma get the win then let's see if we will get it, it's going to be fun and great to have those matches."
Raducanu and Alcaraz are set to kick off their doubles campaign at 7pm on Tuesday. They have been drawn to face Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula in the opening round.
How will Emma Raducanu do at the US Open this time? Share your predictions in the comments below
Alcaraz's journey comes after he recently joked that Raducanu would be calling the shots in their double-up. He said: "She's going to be the boss.
"The US Open came to us and gave us the opportunity to play mixed doubles. I'm super excited about it, it's going to be great, it was an amazing idea from the tournament.
"I've known Emma since a long time ago – I have a really good relationship with her so it's going to be interesting. We are going to enjoy [it] for sure, I'll try to put my doubles skills on and we'll try to win."
Following the conclusion of the mixed doubles event, both Raducanu and Alcaraz will turn their attentions to their singles campaigns. Raducanu has not progressed past the first round since her breakout shock victory in 2021. Meanwhile, Alcaraz won the men's tournament in 2022 but only reached the second round last year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
29 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
All-star duo Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz knocked out of controversial US Open mixed doubles
The mixed doubles has come under the spotlight at Flushing Meadows after being rescheduled to start before the main tournament, with $1m in prize money at stake for the winners of the 16-pair event, which has drawn the scorn of many mixed doubles players who can't take part in this format.. Two former singles champions at Flushing Meadows, the two 22-year-olds, Raducanu and Alcaraz, were the big draw at a star-studded event in New York, where both players got hero's receptions as they stepped onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Both showed flashes of their own respective brilliance, but they came up against top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper in irresistible form, with the American and the Briton progressing 4-2, 4-2. An immediate break of the Alcaraz serve in the opening game set the tone for Pegula and Draper, who themselves were an unfamiliar pairing after both had seen their initial partners withdraw. In Draper's case, make that two. The British men's No1 was originally slated to play with Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng, but she was ruled out through injury, and he turned to the Spaniard Paula Badosa instead. Badosa then withdrew a back injury, and that left Draper scrambling for a partner, until he stumbled upon Pegula, who was herself on the hunt for a new pairing after Tommy Paul pulled out. Draper was on hot form from the off in the Queens heat, and it was almost impossible to tell that he had not played since his second-round Wimbledon defeat by Marin Cilic. Draper, a semi-finalist in the men's singles here last year, was lasering his leftie forehand and showing strong nous at the net alongside his more specialist doubles partner Pegula, who reached the final of this very competition back in 2023 with Austin Krajicek. Pegula and Draper were showing great cohesion in the early exchanges, targeting Raducanu at times with booming groundstrokes. Raducanu, who rose to prominence as an 18-year-old champion here back in 2021, refused to back down and played her part as she and Alcaraz got on the scoreboard at 2-1, with the British world No35 holding her serve well under pressure after a shaky start. Alcaraz was not at his mercurial best in the opening set having just landed from his win at the Cincinnati Open over an ill Jannik Sinner, and that showed as he missed a sitter of a volley at 30-30, before blazing an inside-out forehand wide of the tramlines for Pegula to hold strong and maintain their break-advantage. ADVERTISEMENT Raducanu and Alcaraz continued to battle, with the Spaniard holding serve comfortably to keep the wildcard pair within one, but it was Draper's blistering form that propelled the No1 seeds to snaring first blood. That wasn't before a moment of magic from Raducanu, who drilled a drive-volley through Pegula for a 0-15 lead, but she was outfoxed by her compatriot as Draper spun sublime left-handed forehand around her and down the line to open up two set points. Indecision off the Alcaraz forehand return converted the second of those, and the people's favourites had a mountain to climb. Raducanu showed superb resolve to recover from spurning two game points with a double fault and forehand unforced error to grind out a bruising baseline exchange with Pegula, before Alcaraz did what he does best, stepping in nimbly to knock away a volley winner at sudden-death deuce to eke their noses in front in the second. Pegula's delivery and Draper's dominance at the net were proving tough nuts to crack, and so it proved, but that was not before the point of the whole tournament so far. Raducanu did superbly to soak up the pressure and power off the Draper forehand as the two slugged it out from the back of the court, before Raducanu looked as though she had given up as a Draper backhand looked certain to zip past her. Alcaraz had other ideas, however, and he darted forwards, flicking a sensational forehand winner down the line. His work would go in vain, however, with the top seeds levelling the scores, and he would also find his service breached once more, with Draper outdoing him on the return with the five-time Grand Slam champion looking for the sneaky serve and volley. The break was secured with two loose Raducanu volleys, and it was promptly followed up by a Draper love-hold in double-quick time as he and Alcaraz battered each other with forehands cross-court before the Briton changed tack at the last, blasting one at Raducanu, who could not sort her hands in time. The British women's No1 rallied and impressively fought off three match points on her own serve to prolong her stay in the reformed tournament, much to the spectators' enjoyment, but it was the home favourite Pegula who served the encounter out in style. A dramatic final game ensued, filled with net chaos, lobs, and the like, including a fourth match point that went astray as Raducanu fired a cross-court winner, but it was Draper, as it had been all afternoon, who did the business, looping in a luscious line winner that sealed the deal and the top seeds' place in the last eight. They will face Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Serbian duo Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic in the later game on Arthur Ashe. In the morning session, Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud superbly swept aside Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe and then Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti in quick succession, while defending champions and doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori - who vocally opposed the reshuffling of the tournament upon its announcement - looked ominously good on Louis Armstrong, breezing past second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz. They then defeated Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev, who had got the better of Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka in their first-round match. The seeds continued to tumble as Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune were toppled by the all-American wildcards Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton, while Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev were decimated by Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison, who stepped in last minute to replace Sinner and his partner Katerina Siniakova.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool set to make British record double-deal for Isak AND Guehi, Spurs reach Eze AGREEMENT
IN AND OUT IN AND OUT Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool set to make British record double-deal for Isak AND Guehi, Spurs reach Eze AGREEMENT CLUBS are splashing MAJOR cash this summer as they look to bolster their squads in the transfer window ahead of the new season! Liverpool have sanctioned a British record £130million move for Alexander Isak next week, SunSport can exclusively reveal - and they are hoping to scoop up Crystal Palace Marc Guehi for £35m too. The Newcastle striker also released a statement on Tuesday night, revealing that the "relationship can't continue" between himself and the club. Elsewhere, Tottenham have reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Crystal Palace for Eberechi Eze, according to reports. Advertisement And Chelsea are said to be advancing in their pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho. SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN Follow ALL the latest news, moves and completed deals with our live blog below...
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper accused of ‘ex vibes' as Carlos Alcaraz is upstaged by Brits' awkward embrace at net
Scroll down to find out which Brit came out on top NO LOVE LOST Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper accused of 'ex vibes' as Carlos Alcaraz is upstaged by Brits' awkward embrace at net EMMA RADUCANU and Jack Draper have been accused of "ex vibes" after meeting at the U.S. Open. The Brits faced off in the Round of 16 at Flushing Meadows in the mixed doubles. 3 Fans thought Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper had an awkward exchange at the net Credit: Sky Sports 3 The pair shook hands but did not embrace Credit: Sky Sports Advertisement 3 Draper and Jessica Pegula won the U.S. Open clash Credit: Reuters Draper and his partner Jessica Pegula overcame Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz 4-2 4-2. At the end of the match the two pairs exchanged plesantries at the net, including handshakes. And fans joked there was an awkward tension in the air as Raducanu and Draper shook hands. Advertisement One fan said: "Ex vibes 😂" READ MORE ON TENNIS CAN DU ATTITUDE Raducanu vows to 'do what royal family would do' as star slams critics Another added: "Raducanu didn't want to hug Draper🤣" A third wrote: "This coldness… we can confirm they were a thing." And another commented: "Jack Draper went in for the hug, but Emma ….😭😭😭 awkward 😬" Advertisement All the players hugged one another except for Raducanu and Draper. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Raducanu, 22, has had to respond to rumours she is dating Alcaraz since teaming up with him in doubles. The British No1 said: "I guess I'm like, it comes with the territory, people being so curious. Brit tennis star lets off blood curdling screech at US Open "I think they're more curious about this news than any tennis results and tennis news. Advertisement "But I just keep myself to myself, my private life to one side. "It's always funny when people try to find something out, but I try not to read into it so much."
