Giggling Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz show how much they enjoy each other's company with plenty of chemistry in US Open mixed doubles defeat, writes MATTHEW LAMBWELL
The team of Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz - an alliance with the power to turn the tennis public into a gaggle of giggling, gossiping teenagers - were bumped out in the first round of the US Open's mixed doubles fandango.
It was fellow Brit Jack Draper who did the bumping, alongside American partner Jessica Pegula - a team who absolutely lived up to their billing as the No1 seeds.
On the first point of the match, Raducanu made a total hash of a volley off a Draper return. Then Draper whipped a forehand past Raducanu to secure a break on the Alcaraz serve.
If they had a poor start it was hardly surprising: Alcaraz was busy winning the Cincinnati title on Monday night and only landed in New York via private jet at 1am, before taking to the court again at 4pm.
But they grew into it and produced some sparkling rallies - and more chemistry than an episode of Breaking Bad. They shared a warm hug after the match, an embrace which the Sky Sports cameras somehow contrived to miss
Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz were beaten in straight sets by the number one seed at the US Open
The speculation about romantic involvement has been baseless and intrusive but there is no doubt these two are good friends who enjoy each other's company.
As they walked out, Raducanu whispered something in Alcaraz's ear and both giggled away. On-court chemistry is extremely important in doubles (several of the pairs in action looked and played as if they had never set eyes on one another) and these two both play best while wearing a smile.
Raducanu, in particular, beamed after pretty much every point - especially in the fifth game of the match when Alcaraz sent down four big serves and Raducanu finished off each with a volley.
As Raducanu held serve in the first game of the second set after a lovely rally, she raised her fist to the skies and a beaming Alcaraz waggled his finger in her direction.
The rally of the match - and the whole day - was when Raducanu and Draper waged a battle of Britain, ending with Draper hitting a lovely angled pass. Raducanu had totally given up the point when suddenly Alcaraz came from nowhere to retrieve the ball, Raducanu having to duck as he threaded a winner down the line. Utter brilliance, which Raducanu greeted by putting her hands to her head in disbelief.
But it was the squeaky-clean hitting of Pegula and the brutal aggression of Draper which carried the day. This was the first we had seen of Draper since Wimbledon; he has been nursing a forearm injury and it was heartening to see him looking so good on court.
'I haven't hit a ball yet,' Pegula said to her team at 2-0. It was an exaggeration but Draper really had taken over the early part of the match.
Dragula were last night playing their quarter-final, chasing that $1million first prize.
So, how was the first day of the event overall? Well there was, predictably, some shocking doubles on display as the singles players chanced their arm. Musetti/McNally vs Osaka/Monfils was a particularly ugly watch - they all just sat on the baseline and exchanged dreary, hopeless rallies.
But Arthur Ashe stadium was sold out - that is 23,771 fans to watch mixed doubles - and Louis Armstrong was open to the public for free. Jannik Sinner, as expected, pulled out after retiring with illness from his Cincinnati final against Alcaraz on Monday night, and that left a serious lack of star power but Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud were good value.
Amid all the big names, the stars of the day were Italian defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. The doubles specialists have been unremittingly critical of this event, describing it as a 'profound injustice' and played with a furious intensity, determined to show the world that singles class would be trumped by doubles nous.
They certainly did that. It was almost embarrassing to watch the way they ran rings around Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina, who were made to look ham-fisted compared to the sprightly Italians who shimmered across the net.
'They are amazing players, we all know that,' said Vavassori. 'But the tactics in doubles are important.
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