Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz crash out of US Open mixed doubles as Jack Draper advances

Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz Exit US Open Mixed Doubles in First Round

In a surprising turn of events at the US Open, tennis sensations Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz were eliminated from the mixed doubles competition after a 4-2, 4-2 defeat against the top-seeded duo of Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper. This match drew significant attention as fans were eager to see the pair compete amid swirling dating rumors.

Alcaraz, who had just flown in from Cincinnati after clinching his sixth title of the year—thanks to Jannik Sinner’s retirement due to illness—played the match on minimal rest.

The first set saw Raducanu and Alcaraz struggling right from the start, as they were broken in the very first game. Draper came out strong, maintaining the advantage throughout the set. The second set mirrored this trend, with Draper again breaking serve early. Although Alcaraz delivered some spectacular plays to level the set temporarily, it ultimately wasn’t enough, and the duo faced a comfortable defeat.

Following the match, Draper expressed his delight, stating, "I have got a pretty good partner! What an experience out here playing with Jessica against Emma and Carlos. It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s just a pleasure to compete against them and with such a great player.”

The US Open has introduced a new format for mixed doubles, requiring players to adapt to several changes, including shorter sets (first to four games wins) and the absence of break points. A tie-break will determine the final set if teams each win a set.

Despite the excitement surrounding the tournament, attendance has been disappointing, with empty seats visible during matches. The winners of the mixed doubles will take home a prize of £1 million, a significant increase from last year’s £500,000.

Looking ahead, Draper and Pegula will face either Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic or Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva in the next round. Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw, Wimbledon champions Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud advanced past Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti to secure their place in the semi-finals.

After their mixed doubles exit, Raducanu and Alcaraz will now refocus their efforts on the singles draw, which is set to begin next week.

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