The highly-anticipated US Open mixed doubles tournament is now underway.
After much discussion and many different opinions put forth about the revamped event, the time for talking is now over
Some of the game’s best ATP and WTA players have joined forces to go for glory at Flushing Meadows.
This includes Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, one of the pairings fans are most excited to see compete in New York.
US Open organiser Eric Butorac says Carlos Alcaraz only wanted to play doubles with Emma Raducanu
16 teams have entered the redesigned US Open mixed doubles event, but only one will be crowned champion.
One of the teams that entered the tournament with the most buzz and excitement around them were Alcaraz and Raducanu.
They have won the US Open singles title and they went for glory as a duo in New York, but fell short against Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula in the opening round.
Alcaraz and Raducanu may not have emerged victorious, but the Spaniard only ever wanted to join forces with the British number one, according to the US Open mixed doubles organiser Eric Butorac.
“We try not to get into the matchmaking business. In February and March, we went to a number of agents and players and told them what we were intending to do,” Butorac told The Telegraph.
“We reached out to Carlos’s team and explained the format. Albert [Molina, Alcaraz’s agent] said, ‘Yeah, I think we very much want to participate in this.’
“And I think it was not more than three days later that they called back and said, ‘His partner will be Emma.’ So we had nothing to do with that.”
Did Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu win their doubles match at the US Open?
Alcaraz and Raducanu played Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula in the opening round of the US Open mixed doubles event.
Though it was clear to see how much fun the former US Open winners were having on court together, Draper and Pegula showed why they are the top seeded team in the competition.
Draper’s excellent serving and aggressive net play, coupled with Pegula’s doubles experience and consistency from the baseline helped them defeat Alcaraz and Raducanu 4-2, 4-2.
After the match, Draper and Pegula, who are now into the semi-finals, reflected on their first victory together as a team. “I’ve got a pretty good partner,” the Brit said on-court.
“What an experience playing out here against Emma and Carlos. It doesn’t get any better than this, so just a pleasure to be out here playing with such a good player.”
Pegula added: “That was such a fun atmosphere. I played doubles a lot, haven’t played that much recently, so it’s always kind of tricky, especially going into a mixed format. It was a lot of fun. Jack played great.”
