A pair of 22-year-old superstars who made their Grand Slam breakthroughs in New York are now eyeing a US Open trophy as a team. Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 men's singles champ, and Emma Raducanu, the surprise 2021 women's singles winner, are among the 16 duos on the initial entry list for the reimagined US Open Mixed Doubles Championship.
The Spanish-British team stands out for its star power even amongst a who's who of top tennis talent. As such, Alcaraz's Tuesday press conference at The Queen's Club in London was dominated by talk of the New York showcase. After his opening-round win against Adam Walton, the world No. 2 was asked who the boss would be on the doubles court.
"She's going to be the boss," Alcaraz said with a smile. "I'm super excited about it. I think it's going to be great. It was an amazing idea for the tournament."
While the US Open will see their debut as a doubles pair, Alcaraz and Raducanu are no strangers off the court.
"I know Emma since a really long time ago," the Spaniard said. "I have a really good relationship with her. It's going to be interesting. We are both going to enjoy, for sure. I will try to put my doubles skill on it.
"We will try to win. But obviously it's going to be really, really fun."
Both Alcaraz and Raducanu have done plenty of winning in singles this year. Alcaraz, an ATP Tour-leading four-time singles champ in 2025, is fresh off his great escape at Roland Garros, where he saved three championship points to defeat Jannik Sinner in a historic final.
Raducanu's best results the season are quarterfinal showings in Miami and Queen's Club, alongside a fourth-round Rome run. Her two wins last week in London lifted her to world No. 36, making her the British No. 1 in women's singles for the first time in two years.
While both have singles CVs full of experience, belying their youth, their doubles resumes are more in line with what you would expect from 22-year-olds still finding their footing in any field.
Alcaraz's best doubles outing came at last summer's Paris Olympics, where he teamed with Rafael Nadal to reach the quarterfinals. It is the only tournament in which the Spaniard, who owns a 7-6 tour-level doubles record, has won multiple doubles matches.
Raducanu has just two doubles appearances to her name, including one on U.S. soil. The British star played the 2022 Citi Open in Washington, D.C., with Clara Tauson and returned to the doubles court last week with countrywoman Katie Boulter on home soil at Queen's Club. A straight-sets win in the opening round gave Raducanu her first tour-level doubles victory.
In the US Open's 16-team draw, it will take four more wins to claim a Grand Slam trophy this August.
Tickets for the mixed doubles action in Arthur Ashe Stadium are available via Ticketmaster and USOpen.org. Learn more about the event at the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship homepage—spectacular awaits!
