Emma Raducanu Deliberately Kept Carlos Alcaraz Waiting for US Open Mixed Doubles Partnership
Emma Raducanu, the British tennis sensation, recently shared an amusing insight into her decision-making process when approached by Carlos Alcaraz to partner in mixed doubles at this year’s US Open. In a light-hearted manner, Raducanu admitted that she intentionally kept Alcaraz waiting before responding to his proposal, stating, "Gotta keep them on their toes!" This playful remark came after Alcaraz mentioned that "she took a while" to get back to him.
While Raducanu was eager to accept Alcaraz’s invitation, she explained that she needed to consult her team first. "Of course, I had to ask my team if they wanted me to play. When he asked me, I was ready to say yes, but I had to go through the formality of asking my coach before making the decision," she clarified.
During their time at the US Open, Raducanu drew motivation from Alcaraz’s impressive performances. "He was always playing the day before me, and I would see him win, which pushed me to aim for similar success," she recalled. In particular, she highlighted Alcaraz’s remarkable third-round victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas as a significant moment in his career, describing it as "his breakout win on a big stage." Throughout the tournament, the two players maintained close communication.
Despite Alcaraz’s rise to stardom, having secured multiple Grand Slam titles, Raducanu treasures their enduring friendship. "We still have a good relationship. He has clearly surpassed me in many ways, but I cherish our bond from the past," she remarked.
Raducanu underscored the importance of friendships formed before fame, noting, "For all of us, those connections from our youth are invaluable. As we gain recognition and success, we often find ourselves gravitating back to those we’ve known for a long time because those relationships are genuine."
Both Raducanu and Alcaraz share similar philosophies on the court, aiming to play with creativity and positivity. "We both perform best when we’re in a creative mindset and enjoying ourselves. You can see the smiles on our faces while we play," she noted.
Raducanu praised Alcaraz’s extraordinary shot-making abilities, attributing it to his curious and adventurous mindset. "He approaches challenges with curiosity, asking himself, ‘What can I do with this?’ It’s inspiring to witness that level of creativity on the men’s side of the game."
Recently, Raducanu took a day off to enjoy tennis at Queen’s Club, where she watched Alcaraz’s semi-final victory. "I was with my friends, and we decided to head to Queen’s to catch some tennis, followed by dinner at the River Cafe," she shared. However, she humorously doubted that Alcaraz would return the favor by attending her matches at Eastbourne this week, laughing, "I doubt it. I really doubt it."
Stay tuned for more exciting updates on these rising tennis stars!
