British No. 1 Emma Raducanu has said she took a while before agreeing to partner up with 2025 French Open winner Carlos Alcaraz for the US Open mixed doubles.
This year, the revamped mixed doubles at the US Open in August will have a massive $1 million prize money, making it a lucrative opportunity for tennis stars.
Raducanu and Alcaraz have both tasted US Open success. The Brit won her first and only Grand Slam at the US Open in 2021, beating Leylah Fernandez.
Five-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz won his only US Open title a year later, in 2022, against Norwegian tennis star Casper Rudd.
Emma Raducanu Took Her Time Agreeing to Pair Up with Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 US Open
Speaking with the Daily Mail at the Queen’s Club Championships, Carlos Alcaraz, who has a net worth of around £40 million, said Emma Raducanu did not exactly jump at the opportunity to pair up.
Raducanu admitted that she took her time, but not because she did not want to play alongside the Spaniard in the US Open.
🏆🌱❤️
📸 Getty pic.twitter.com/B6rgiv623x
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) June 22, 2025
When asked if she really made Alcaraz wait, Raducanu, 22, said:
“Gotta keep them on their toes! (laughing).
“I had to ask my team if they thought I should play, but when he asked me, I was going to say yes, I just had to go through the formality of asking my coach.”
Emma Raducanu Opens Up About Her Friendship With Carlos Alcaraz
Having come through at the same time, Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz share a great friendship. Discussing the relationship she has with Alcaraz, Raducanu said (via The Daily Mail):
“He’s so nice, very happy, amazing values and just a really positive light to be around.
“I’ve known him for years. Wimbledon 2021 was the first time I started getting to know him. He was always playing the day before me, I would see him win, and then I would have motivation to win and get myself into that position too.”
🪙 .@carlosalcaraz and @EmmaRaducanu are still working to get on the same page ahead of the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship 😅 pic.twitter.com/NKlWjzXrOO
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) June 19, 2025
Raducanu added:
“It was really cool to go through that tournament together and then I kept going through the US Open, we were staying in touch for the whole time and, yeah, it’s nice.
“We have a good relationship still. He’s obviously overtaken me a lot, but it’s nice that we have that from a while ago.”
Raducanu Clarifies She Is Not Romantically Involved With Alcaraz
Unsurprisingly, there is growing speculation about the relationship the two tennis stars share, with some only accounts suggesting romantic involvement.
When the claims were put forward during a BBC interview, Emma Raducanu dismissed them with a witty remark.
Raducanu on parody accounts saying she & Alcaraz are destined for each other
"There are parody accounts who suggest you & Carlos are destined for each other”
Emma: "I'm glad the internet’s having fun & we're providing some entertainment for everyone"😂
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 24, 2025
“I’m glad the internet’s having fun, and we’re providing some entertainment for everyone.”
With the top two tennis stars linking up, all eyes will be on the Raducanu-Alcaraz pairing during the US Open mixed doubles. It will be interesting to see if they can live up to the hype.
Having drawn criticism for her ‘cold’ demeanour after French Open exit, Raducanu will look forward to thriving in the US.
