Emma Raducanu Reacts to Carlos Alcaraz Dating Rumors After Agreeing to Be His U.S. Open Doubles Partner
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty; Carlos Alvarez/Getty
From Left: Emma Raducanu; and Carlos Alcaraz
NEED TO KNOW
- Emma Raducanu Reacts and Carlos Alcaraz will make their U.S. Open mixed doubles debut in August
- Dating rumors have surrounded the tennis stars since the announcement
- Alcaraz is coming off winning the French Open
Tennis fans will have to wait a bit longer for a new power couple.
Despite dating rumors swirling around Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz, the two are just friends. While speaking to the BBC in a video published on Monday, June 23, Raducanu, 22, reacted to the buzz, saying that she is “glad the internet is having fun and we’re providing some entertainment for everyone.”
The theory that the BBC described as “melting tennis social media last week” came about after the U.S. Open announced the mixed doubles pairs — which also includes the all-American pair of old friends Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe and current tennis couple Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa — on June 17.
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Emma Raducanu at the HSBC Championships on June 12, 2025
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The 2021 U.S. Open champion then explained how the platonic pairing came about. “He asked me earlier on in the year,” she recalled. “I was very surprised and honored and obviously very excited.”
Though she had to ask her coach for the go-ahead, Raducanu said, “Of course I was going to say ‘yes.’ ”
Alcaraz, also 22, will look to add a mixed doubles trophy to his five Grand Slam victories. The Spanish player, ranked No. 2 overall, attained his most recent Grand Slam win in the longest ever French Open final of all time against his rival, Italian world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
The pair of young aces, meanwhile, go way back to the summer of 2021, according to Raducanu. "We both started getting to know each other when I had that little run at Wimbledon and he had the five set [match] in the first round,” she shared. “Ever since we’ve stayed in touch.”
Raducanu and Alcaraz, both 18 at the time, ended up exiting the tournament early on but reunited later that summer at the U.S. Open where Raducanu won, becoming the youngest major champion since Maria Sharapova in 2004.
Franco Arland/Getty
Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open final on June 8, 2025
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Reflecting on her future mixed doubles partner’s success, the Brit said, “He’s done so well obviously and continued winning. It's been amazing to see.”
Injuries, however, have plagued Raducanu’s own success. A wrist and ankle surgery in 2023 gave the current No. 38 ranked player lots to overcome, dropping her to a ranking of 289 at the time.
Despite a back injury Raducanu has been steadily climbing up the rankings and will make her U.S. Open mixed doubles debut with Alcaraz, when the tournament starts playing in New York City on Aug. 19.
Read the original article on People