New Delhi: Former US Open winner Emma Raducanu has shut down all the rumours of a romantic link with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, brushing aside the speculation with a smile as she prepares for Wimbledon.
The British number one and the reigning French Open champion hit the practice courts together at Wimbledon on Friday as part of a sponsor commitment. Their on-court chemistry and easy camaraderie sparked chants online, especially after it was revealed the two will be playing mixed doubles together at the US Open later this year.
Raducanu cleared the air about dating rumours in the press conference when asked about the same. She said, “We’re just good friends,” with a smile on her face. “It was fun yesterday. We were both on court with Evian, just getting some volley practice ahead of New York.”
As the reporter tried to conclude the topic with “I think we’ll wrap it up there,” Raducanu quipped, “Way to wrap up.”
Emma Raducanu answers a question about her friendship with Carlos Alcaraz 🎙️
What a note to end the press conference on 😂 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/PMOPLbvOXQ
— TENNIS (@Tennis) June 28, 2025
The duo’s partnership for Flushing Meadows came about after Alcaraz himself made the request to team up with Raducanu. The Spaniard has enjoyed a meteoric rise since winning his first major at the US Open while Raducanu, who stunned the tennis world with her fairytale run to the 2021 title in New York and has been navigating the challenges of life on the tour since.
Looking ahead to Wimbledon
Raducanu’s journey since her historic win has not been smooth, with injuries and the glare of the spotlight often proving testing. As she heads into this year’s Wimbledon, the 22-year-old is keeping her expectations in check, aware of the physical and mental hurdles she’s been dealing with.
“Truthfully, I don’t expect much from myself this year,” Raducanu admitted. “I know I’ve just been dealing with certain things. I just want to go out there and embrace the moment.”
Raducanu is set to face fellow Briton Mimi Xu in her opening match at SW19 and is keen to soak in the experience of playing in front of a home crowd once more.
This Wimbledon is not about results for the British star; rather, it’s about rediscovering the joy and connecting with grass where she first dreamt of becoming a champion.