Carlos Alcaraz has revealed that he made a special request to Emma Raducanu to be his partner at this year’s US Open mixed doubles – and the British No 1 will be the boss when they play together in New York.
“I was thinking that I couldn’t play better if it wasn’t with Emma,” the Spaniard said after defeating the Australian Adam Walton 6-4, 7-6 in the first round at Queen’s Club. “I just asked Emma if she wants to play doubles with me – I made that special request.”
“A wise person once told me you should find the best partner, and that’s what she did in Alcaraz,” Draper said. “I don’t blame her at all for that. I think she will have a lot of fun playing with Carlos.
“He’s obviously the best player in the world probably right now, along with Sinner. Great at doubles, as well. Saw that with Rafa [Nadal] at the Olympics. She’s gone about and chose the best partner, for sure. Hopefully they do well.”
Draper said that the players backed the US Open’s decision to revamp the mixed doubles event. “I think it’s a good format for the players to get prepared for the US Open, having a shot at playing with another top player. Qinwen I know from the tour. I have seen her around. Obviously a great player herself and has a really good game,” he said.
Eight pairs have earned entry based on their combined singles ranking, with the other eight pairs decided by the US Open’s wildcard committee. That has caused controversy among some doubles specialists, but Lew Sherr, the US Tennis Association’s chief executive, said the new format allowed the world’s best men and women to compete with and against one another.
“Seeing the teams that have already put their names on the entry list makes us all incredibly excited,” he said. “It shows that the players are behind what we are trying to do and we know that the fans will love it.”
The tennis power couple Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa will also compete together, but the Australia No 1, Alex de Minaur, said he and his British fiancee, Katie Boulter, had not been invited.
“We are definitely keen to play if they allow us to do so,” he said.
