Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu Dating Rumors Just Got Squashed

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Vivek Devane | Last updated Aug 23, 2025 9:02 PM ET

Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu’s blockbuster pairing at the US Open mixed doubles event grabbed global attention as they teamed up for a highly anticipated debut.

While Alcaraz and Raducanu have both firmly denied any talk of romance, fans and media alike have been speculating whether their chemistry extended beyond the court.

However, those whispers were swiftly silenced by Mark Petchey, the former professional player who briefly coached Raducanu earlier this year.

Petchey, now a respected tennis commentator and analyst for Tennis Channel, ITV and Amazon Prime, clarified the situation in an exclusive interview.

Mark Petchey Shuts Down Alcaraz-Raducanu Dating Speculation

“It's exciting for us as fans and I think it's actually very exciting for the players that are involved in it as well,” said Petchey. “Obviously, I know there's suggestions that they are going out. That's not the case. They're just good friends.”

“The reality is they're only there to play tennis. But they're excited to play and all the players that I spoke to at Montreal and Cincinnati are all excited to play,” he added.

“They're all thrilled with the opportunity. I think they're all pretty jacked to go and show how much it means to them to try and win this event but also to go and put on a great show for tennis.”

“They are just good friends. She's good friends with a lot of people out there on the tour. The media's going to be the media,” said Petchey as he dismissed the online buzz as a media stint and nothing more.

Despite their short-lived campaign, which ended in a 4-2, 4-2 first-round loss to top-seeded Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula in under an hour, Alcaraz and Raducanu’s on-court energy captivated spectators . Their communication, smiles, and synergy kept the packed Arthur Ashe crowd engaged.

For now, the “blockbuster pairing” of Alcaraz and Raducanu remains an intriguing what-if story for fans, but the focus, as Petchey pointed out, is firmly on tennis and not romance.

Alcaraz and Raducanu will now turn their attention towards the tough singles draw that begins on Monday at the flushing meadows, as they look to make it to the second week of the final grand slam of 2025.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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