Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz face trouble ahead of U.S. Open mixed doubles thanks to Cincinnati final

Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz have emerged as one of the most talked-about duos in the upcoming U.S. Open mixed doubles, a two-day spectacle set for Aug. 19–20, before the singles draw begins on Aug. 24. The pair were confirmed as a wild-card entry in this newly revamped event offering a $1M winner’s prize. 

Alcaraz, the Spanish star who personally reached out to Raducanu to form the partnership, affectionately dubbed her the boss in an interview fuelling further intrigue around the pairing.

Their opening match is expected to be nothing short of dramatic, as they will face the top-seeded team of Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The draw’s configuration places Alcaraz and Raducanu in a bracket that could potentially lead to a blockbuster quarterfinal against winners of Djokovic–Danilovic versus Andreeva–Medvedev.

This year’s mixed doubles event marks a bold reinvention from the USTA. Matches will be played in best-of-three formats with short sets to four games, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point match tiebreak in the event of a third set, except in the final, where sets extend to six games but still utilize no-ad scoring and a 10-point decider if needed. 

The new structure, designed to boost fan engagement and enable top singles players to participate, has not been without controversy, drawing criticism from both players and traditionalists.

Beyond the format, the Raducanu-Alcaraz pairing carries layers of narrative intrigue. Alcaraz leads the singles World No. 2 ranking and has just secured his fifth Grand Slam at the 2025 French Open, adding to his impressive resume that includes Wimbledon and several other majors. Meanwhile, Raducanu has enjoyed a resurgence; she expressed feeling more confident ahead of this year’s U.S. Open than at any point since her fairy tale 2021 title run.

After a solid showing in Cincinnati, falling just short in a three-set battle with Aryna Sabalenka, she acknowledged that a year of health and match-play has restored her rhythm. Though injuries plagued her 2024 season and derailed her campaign in New York, she now heads into this tournament ranked No. 34 and possibly seeded thanks to recent withdrawals. On paper, Raducanu has yet to claim a professional doubles title, same as Alcaraz, but their combined star power is undeniable.

Adding to the buzz are occasional whispers of romance. Though sources report that Raducanu insists they’re just friends, popular media headlines have referenced them as ‘rumored love interests’ adding a sensational layer to their on-court alliance. Neither has much doubles pedigree Raducanu paired with Katie Boulter at Queen’s Club this summer without major breakthroughs, and this marks Alcaraz’s first inclusion into Grand Slam mixed doubles. 

Yet, their collaboration is being positioned as a PR coup as much as a sporting endeavor.