Tennis world goes nuts for Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu pairing at US Open
In their first round match at the revamped US Open mixed doubles, Jack Draper and his partner Jessica Pegula overcame Raducanu and Alcaraz 4-2, 4-2 – with sets shortened for the new $1.6 million event.
But despite losing comprehensively, Raducanu and Alcaraz kept spirits high, bumping fists, sharing embraces and laughs throughout.
Raducanu and Alcaraz's pairing – dubbed Raducaraz by some fans – also fuelled relationship rumours as fans speculated they may be more than just friends.
'Am I watching the start of a love story?' one person wrote on X.
'I think this could be tennis' hottest new couple,' another said.
While a third wrote: 'That was so much fun to watch'.
Rumours of the pair dating have swirled since the Brit was pictured cheering on the Spaniard at Wimbledon in June.
Since then each of the pair's social media pages continue to be flooded with questions about a potential bubbling romance.
Such is the interest in the pair that worldwide search interest in the pair is up 2.2% in the last three months.
However, the pair have denied being together and instead insist they are 'just good friends'.
'I guess I'm like, it comes with the territory, people being so curious,' Raducanu told The Guardian ahead of her doubles match with Alcaraz.
'I think they're more curious about this news than any tennis results and tennis news.
'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.'
The British No. 1 has returned to form in recent months, but she narrowly missed out on being a seed for the US Open singles event, which begins next week in New York.
Alcaraz will enter the US Open draw as the second seed.
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