Starry pairings enjoy magic moments but mixed fortunes while specialists retain pride in ‘reimagined’ doubles
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fter many long months of discussion and anticipation, the doubles partnership between Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz came and went in the blink of an eye in front of a well‑populated Arthur Ashe Stadium. Despite ample smiles and enjoyment on the court, they were bulldozed in a battle of British No 1s by a sharp Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, who reached the quarter-finals of the revamped mixed‑doubles competition with a 4-2, 4-2 win.
In a draw filled with unusual partnerships, the first bracket of the mixed doubles draw was particularly striking. Draper and Raducanu are childhood friends and they have known each other since the days when they were rising up the national rankings in Britain while dreaming of becoming professional players. When the US Open announced its “reimagined” mixed‑doubles competition in February, a partnership between them seemed like the most logical option. Instead, they found themselves against each other in the biggest tennis stadium in the world.
Raducanu had played just three doubles tournaments in her entire career and the match started with a reminder of her lack of doubles prowess as she sprayed a backhand drive volley far wide. That first point set the tone for a difficult day on-court as she was continually vulnerable, particularly at the net.
