Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu accused of 'taking jobs' after blockbuster announcement

Wales Online

4 hours ago

Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu accused of 'taking jobs' after blockbuster announcement
The US Open mixed doubles draw has been met with a mixed reaction, with Andy Roddick accusing the likes of Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz of 'taking jobs' in the format
Emma Raducanu has been slammed by an American tennis icon
(Image:for LTA )
Andy Roddick has expressed disapproval over the likes of Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz taking spots in the US Open mixed doubles draw, which he believes should be reserved for doubles specialists.
However, the American tennis icon acknowledged that having high-profile players participate can help "grow the game of doubles" and sees it as a positive development as well.
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The format for the mixed doubles at this year's final grand slam has recently been changed. It now takes place during the qualifying week, which will allow top tennis names to warm up at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center before the singles matches kick off.
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This change has drawn some criticism as players such as Alcaraz, Raducanu, Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro have entered the draw, potentially displacing lower-ranked doubles players who had intended to compete.
Speaking on 'Served with Andy Roddick', the tennis legend shared his conflicted feelings about the new draw announcement. Roddick suggested that while the inclusion of well-known players will attract more fans to doubles, it also does a disservice to those who dedicate their careers to the doubles circuit.
Andy Roddick has mixed feelings on the US Open format change
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The 42-year-old said: "Now, is it taking jobs away from doubles players who kind of run this side tour? Yeah, it is.
"But, if your net, most important thing is - which is the defence that I get when people are mad at me when I talk about doubles - is, 'We have to grow the game of doubles,' there is not a better way to grow the game of doubles than to have the biggest stars on earth playing doubles, featured, ESPN prime time, in the lead-up to the US Open."
Roddick added: "This entry list, I thought it would be fine, I thought we'd have some cool names and some cool matchups, [but] this is a 12/10 with the people who are going to do this. Don't argue with me about what mixed doubles should be if you don't get excited about this.
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Jannik Sinner will also participate in the mixed doubles
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"People were like we had to grow the game of doubles, so we can't take that away from the doubles that people don't watch regularly... that was confusing to me. Now, you get nine of the top 10 on each side, biggest stars on earth, and then some. This is going to bring more eyeballs to the game of doubles."
The American tennis legend's comments have shed light on the mixed atmosphere surrounding the doubles event at this year's US Open, with fans eagerly anticipating the high-profile pairings set to grace the courts.
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These partnerships include Alcaraz and Raducanu, Sinner and Navarro, Olga Danilovic paired with Novak Djokovic, and Naomi Osaka joining forces with Nick Kyrgios. However, viewers feel the sting for those doubles specialists, who may have missed out on a place at the event due to the format change.
The US Open mixed doubles tournament will be held over two days, on August 19 and 20, during the qualifying week of the season's final major tournament.