Emma Raducanu: Carlos Alcaraz and I are just ‘good friends'

Telegraph

14 hours ago

Emma Raducanu insisted her and Carlos Alcaraz are 'just good friends' after the rumour mill began churning when they were announced as a pairing for the US Open's new mixed doubles competition.
The two - who can expect to be given a portmanteau nickname of either 'Alcaranu' or 'Raducaraz' – are one of several eye-catching duos set to make their debuts in New York in August.
When the pairing was announced during the Queen's Club event, they were asked about how it came about, with Alcaraz saying Raducanu took 'a while' to reply to him when he proposed the pair join forces for the $1 million (£728,756) event.
When Raducanu was then spotted on the Queen's Club balcony watching Alcaraz's semi-final victory in west London, the rumours started to gain momentum.
'We're just good friends,' Raducanu said ahead of Wimbledon.
Raducanu and Alcaraz, who is after a Wimbledon 'three-peat', had a similar breakout moment in their careers. The pair's history started in 2021 when she was catapulted to superstardom by winning the US Open. Then, Alcaraz was ranked 55th in the world – Raducanu was 150th – and for both of them, the tournament was a coming-of-age moment that would change the trajectory of their careers.
Raducanu lifted the trophy months after doing her A levels, while Alcaraz announced himself on the world stage by knocking out then-third seed Tsitsipas on Arthur Ashe. It was during that tournament that the two teenagers encountered each other for the first time, and it is at the same venue that they will make their doubles debut in August this year.
For now, despite a sponsor's event alongside Alcaraz, where Raducanu admitted 'we were just getting some volley practice ahead of New York', talk of doubles will have to wait until after the home slam, and everything that comes with it
Raducanu's preparations for Wimbledon have been far from straightforward as she continues to deal with a back issue that has affected her since Strasbourg in May. There was also a personal matter that left her emotional and fighting back tears after her opening round win in Eastbourne.
To manage the ongoing back issue Raducanu has been forced to seek multiple types of treatment including dry needling, muscle stimulation and taping.
'Truthfully I don't expect much from myself this year,' Raducanu said when asked about her Wimbledon preparation. 'I know I've just been dealing with certain things. I just want to go out there and embrace the moment, I want to embrace the occasion.
'I know there's not many opportunities to be playing at Wimbledon. You get it once a year and for a finite amount of time. I'm just looking forward to going out there and feeling the surroundings and the atmosphere.'
The back has been a particular problem for Raducanu during the grass court season, and caused her to pull out of the Berlin Open.
But after saying following her second-round Eastbourne defeat to teenager Maya Joint: 'I will stop on the court regardless' when asked about the potential impact of the injury, it is clearly not completely solved ahead of the tournament.
'It's just been managing, as I've said the last few weeks,' she said. 'I wouldn't say it's 100%, but a lot of the time with tennis players, nothing is ever 100 per cent. So just taking it as it comes.'
The first hurdle for Raducanu at the All England Tennis Club will be British teenager Mimi Xu, with the pair due to face each other on court one on Monday. Earlier this season Xu was sitting A Level exams around her tournament commitments in Birmingham and Nottingham.
'I think it's a very dangerous match, very difficult. I think Mimi is a really, really good player. I practiced with her a few times. A lot of weapons. Also moves really well. It's going to be a really different match.'
The pair have spent enough time together that Raducanu converses with Xu's mother in Mandarin, given the opportunity to exercise her language skills - and the teenager was a part of the Billie Jean King Cup squad as a practice partner.
'For her it's one where there's nothing to lose. I remember when I had my first Wimbledon here and I was 18. It's a great feeling. You just feel, like, completely fearless,' Raducanu said.
'So I think for me it's going to be a challenge, but one that I'm looking forward to and I'm ready for.'
When Raducanu reclaimed the title as British No 1 ahead of the home grand slam, it was at the expense of Katie Boulter, who held the title for the previous two years.
But for Boulter, not having the weight of seeding, title and the expectations that come with, she believes can help her when she takes on ninth seed Paula Badosa on centre court on Monday.
'I feel like it's a totally different situation for me coming in this year,' Boulter said.
'I'm not seeded. I'm kind of like a dark horse and I like that feeling.
'I do like the fact that I can go out and swing free and I've got nothing to lose. I'm really looking forward to that match.'