The tennis world is buzzing with excitement as Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu are set to join forces in a highly anticipated mixed doubles partnership at the US Open. The announcement of this collaboration has sent ripples through the sport, with fans already coining the moniker "Alcaranu" to celebrate the union of these two talented players.
The US Open has revamped its mixed doubles event into a prominent competition, scheduled to take place on August 19 and 20, just before the main tournament commences on August 24. This strategic move aims to draw in high-profile players and generate more buzz around the event. The format will feature quick-scoring sets played to four games, with a sudden-death deuce and a tie-break at 4-4. The final will have six-game sets. Moreover, the winners are set to receive a substantial prize of $1 million, marking a significant increase of $800,000 from the previous year, further incentivizing participation.
Alcaraz, the reigning French Open champion and current world No. 2, revealed that he was the one who initiated the partnership. Speaking after his first-round win against Adam Walton at Queen's Club, Alcaraz explained that the US Open presented the opportunity to play mixed doubles, and he couldn't imagine a better partner than Raducanu. "I was thinking that I couldn't play better if it wasn't with Emma," he said. "I just asked Emma if she wants to play doubles with me – I made that special request."
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, apparently took some time to consider the offer. Alcaraz noted with a laugh, "She took a while... Not much, but she had to think a bit. But it wasn't in a minute." Despite the slight delay in her response, the partnership was eventually confirmed, much to the delight of tennis enthusiasts worldwide.
Adding to the intrigue, Alcaraz has declared that Raducanu will be "the boss" on the court. Despite his impressive credentials, including five Grand Slam singles titles, Alcaraz wants Raducanu to take charge. "She's going to be the boss," he said. "I've known Emma for a really long time and I have a really good relationship with her. We will try to win. But obviously it's going to be really, really fun."
This sentiment underscores Alcaraz's respect for Raducanu's abilities and her historic achievement at the 2021 US Open, where she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title. At the time, she was only 18 years old and ranked No. 150 in the world.
The announcement of the Alcaraz-Raducanu partnership has drawn varied reactions from other players. Jack Draper, who will be partnering with China's Qinwen Zheng, humorously acknowledged Raducanu's choice, saying, "A wise person once told me you should find the best partner, and that's what she did in Alcaraz. I don't blame her at all for that. I think she will have a lot of fun playing with Carlos."
The US Open mixed doubles event promises to be a star-studded affair, with other notable pairings including world No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, as well as former champions Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek also expected to participate. With the new format, increased prize money, and the exciting "Alcaranu" partnership, the mixed doubles competition at the US Open is set to be a must-watch event for tennis fans.
