Emma Raducanu just broke her silence about those dating rumors with Carlos Alcaraz after they decided to team up for this year’s US Open.
Here’s the thing about tennis – there are basically two different worlds watching the same sport.
You’ve got the professional side with players, coaches, and journalists who live and breathe the tour. They’re talking about forehands, backhands, and who’s on a winning streak.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|
Then there’s the social media side. These fans are watching from home, and they’re way more interested in the personal drama.
They love digging into possible relationships and dating rumors. Sometimes they figure things out way before anything becomes official.
Take Jannik Sinner and Anna Kalinskaya. Eagle-eyed tennis fans spotted their relationship early because of a picture where Sinner was on a call with someone named "Anna." Pretty clever detective work, right?
But one pairing that fans have really been hoping for? Alcaraz and Raducanu.
The rumors started heating up after Raducanu once responded to a fake tweet that made up a quote about their relationship. That was all it took to get people talking.
The US Open Team-Up
The two recently decided to play mixed doubles together at this year’s US Open. Raducanu told BBC Sport how the whole thing came together.
"He asked me earlier on in the year. I was very surprised and honored and obviously excited. And I just went through the formality of asking my coach. But of course, I’m gonna say yes."
Then the interviewer asked her something she’d never hear in a regular press conference.
Were you aware of the dating rumors about you and Alcaraz?
They even told her that some parody accounts on X were claiming Alcaraz lost at the Qatar Open in Doha this year because he was sad about her injury.
"No, not quite to that extent, but I’m glad the internet is having fun, and we’re providing some entertainment for everyone."
More Than Just Rumors
Raducanu clearly thinks the whole thing is pretty funny. But when she talks about her actual relationship with Alcaraz, you can tell their friendship means a lot to her.
"We go back a long way. And I think we both started getting to know each other a lot more in 2021, and when I had that run at Wimbledon… I think he won, like, in five sets in the first round or something."
That was back in 2021 – before either of them became huge stars.
"Ever since, we stayed in touch, and he’s done so well, obviously, since then, and continued winning… It’s been amazing to see. We were speaking and friends before anyone won anything."
That last line is pretty telling. They’ve been friends since before the big wins, the major titles, and all the fame that came with it.
It’s rare in professional sports to have friendships that go back to before anyone made it big. Most players meet after they’re already established.
So while the internet keeps having fun with those dating rumors, it sounds like Raducanu and Alcaraz have something that might actually be more valuable – a genuine friendship that started when they were just two talented kids trying to make it in tennis.
Whether that friendship turns into anything more? Well, that’s probably not something we’ll find out from parody Twitter accounts.
