Raducanu opens up on 'genuine connection' with partner Alcaraz

Emma Raducanu says her upcoming mixed doubles partnership with Carlos Alcaraz is a reflection of the meaningful, friendly connection the pair made as they were rising up the rankings at the start of their careers.

- Tumaini Carayol

"It is nice and I think, for all of us, we really value those connections that we had from when we were young," Raducanu said. "Because when you become a bit more known or a bit more successful, you just find yourself reverting back to people you knew from a young age and because that's a real genuine connection, because it becomes very busy and you have a lot more friends - but the ones that you've known for a long time mean a lot more to you."

Raducanu and Alcaraz, both 22, will compete together in the US Open mixed doubles tournament in August, which has been revamped controversially this year in order to spotlight the top players. The event will be played in a streamlined two-day format during the week before the US Open. Raducanu says they first got to know each other at Wimbledon in 2021 and forged a friendly connection during their respective breakout runs at the US Open that year.