Emma Raducanu is set to compete in the US Open mixed doubles alongside Jack Draper, as her anticipated partnership with Carlos Alcaraz may not materialize. Fans were initially excited about Raducanu teaming up with Alcaraz for the new format in New York. The United States Tennis Association has introduced a doubles event a week before the singles, offering a substantial $1 million prize to attract top players.
However, a scheduling conflict now poses a challenge to their pairing. Alcaraz, who is slated to face Jannik Sinner in the final of the Cincinnati Open, faces a tight turnaround due to the extended tournament schedule. The Cincinnati Open, typically concluding on Sunday night, will see Alcaraz and Sinner play on Monday night instead, potentially affecting Alcaraz’s participation in the mixed doubles event with Raducanu.
The flight from Cincinnati to New York is approximately two hours, with the mixed doubles matches scheduled to commence at 11 am local time on Tuesday. The semi-finals and final are then set to take place on Wednesday during the two-day event.
The official draw released on Sunday night still includes Alcaraz and Raducanu, who are expected to face Draper and Jessica Pegula in their first-round match after both their original partners withdrew. On the other hand, Sinner and Katerina Siniakova are slated to compete against Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev, with uncertainty lingering over the occurrence of these matches.
Alcaraz had opted out of the Canadian Open to address a minor injury following his Wimbledon final defeat, indicating a potential inclination towards prioritizing rest and recovery ahead of the US Open singles. It would be disappointing if Raducanu and Alcaraz miss the opportunity to compete together after expressing their enthusiasm for the partnership during Wimbledon.
Alcaraz expressed his excitement about teaming up with Raducanu, emphasizing her leadership role in their mixed doubles endeavor. Despite the uncertainty surrounding their participation, the duo remains listed in the draw, awaiting the outcome of Alcaraz’s Cincinnati Open final before their scheduled match against Draper and Pegula.
