Fears for Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz partnership as US Open already hit by high-profile withdrawals
FEARS over Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz’s partnership are on the rise after the US Open was hit by high-profile withdrawals.
Raducanu and Alcaraz were among the teams announced for the new format of the mixed doubles event in New York in August.
The pair, who have both won the US Open singles, were then linked romantically but they insisted they are simply just “good friends”.
Raducanu even watched Alcaraz at Queen’s and Wimbledon either side of them teaming up for an Evian commercial.
However, several other partnerships have already pulled out of the controversial event.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa initially entered.
But they have since removed themselves from the entrant list.
That comes amid reports the tennis couple have split up for good.
Then Jack Draper and Zheng Qinwen also revoked their entry as they both battle injuries.
British No1 Draper admitted at Wimbledon that he “thinks it was me who messaged” his partner – all but revealing it was all done by his agency IMG.
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Other pairings such as Aryna Sabalenka and Grigor Dimitrov, Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro and Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic remain on the entry list.
But there are worries over Raducanu and Alcaraz.
Tennis fans are desperate to see ‘Radalcaraz’ in action together.
However, there is a chance they may follow suit and withdraw – to give themselves the best chance of success in the singles.
Also, the British-Spanish duo may not actually qualify.
Only the top eight pairs by singles ranking are guaranteed to get in.
However, US Open chiefs would surely give Raducanu and Alcaraz one of the eight wildcard spots.
Eleven new teams have put their names forward to play in the innovative competition, taking the total entries up to 25 – with 16 getting in.
Among them are engaged couple Katie Boulter and Alex De Minaur plus Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune, veteran Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka and doubles world No1s Katerina Siniakova and Marcelo Arevalo.
Siniakova has 11 Grand Slam titles – including all four in women’s doubles and the Wimbledon 2025 mixed doubles crown.
The Czech doubles specialist blasted the rejigged tournament, which will be staged the week before the singles action gets underway with $1million up for grabs for the winners and a ‘fast four’ format with shorter sets.
Siniakova, who is reliant on a wildcard, said: “When two world No. 1s in doubles don’t get into the tournament, there’s probably nothing more to say about it.
“I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if I won’t get it, actually. I will just keep it like this.”