Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz entered Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday to launch their mixed doubles campaign at the US Open.
The pairing of two former champions had been one of the most discussed features of the tournament’s newly restructured format. Their debut, however, ended quickly, as they were defeated in straight sets by Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, 4-2, 4-2.
The partnership between Raducanu and Alcaraz was announced two weeks prior and was widely considered the most high-profile entry in the draw.
Both players had expressed enthusiasm in the build-up, with Raducanu speaking about a strong “on-court connection” and Alcaraz stating he was prepared to allow her to take the lead tactically. The 22-year-old Spaniard had just secured the Cincinnati Open title and flew directly to New York for the match.
On court, the duo showed clear rapport, frequently exchanging words between points and maintaining positive body language.
Alcaraz produced one of the evening’s standout moments with a running winner struck around the net post, but the pair were unable to shift the momentum of the match.
Draper and Pegula, seeded first for the event, controlled the key exchanges and closed out both sets without allowing their opponents a foothold.
A new format for mixed doubles
The US Open has overhauled its mixed doubles competition for 2025, replacing traditional pairings of doubles specialists with a draw designed to attract leading singles players.
A $1 million prize pool was introduced to further raise the profile of the event, which takes place during US Open Fan Week ahead of the main singles draws.
Alongside Raducanu and Alcaraz, several other notable partnerships were announced. Iga Swiatek, the current world No.2, joined forces with Casper Ruud.
Venus Williams entered with compatriot Reilly Opelka. Draper partnered Pegula after initial teammates Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa withdrew. Despite the excitement, the tournament has been affected by a number of withdrawals, including world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka with Grigor Dimitrov, and most recently Jannik Sinner, who pulled out due to illness after retiring from the Cincinnati final.
The appearance marked Raducanu‘s return to the scene of her 2021 Grand Slam breakthrough, while Alcaraz approached the event as both an opportunity to compete alongside a fellow major champion and as match practice ahead of his singles campaign.
Both players are also commercial ambassadors for Evian, having appeared together earlier this year at Wimbledon.
The defeat ends Raducanu and Alcaraz‘s involvement in the mixed doubles, but their participation delivered significant attention to the event’s first edition under its new structure.
For Raducanu, the focus now returns to attempting to build momentum in singles after a series of inconsistent results. Alcaraz, meanwhile, continues his pursuit of a third major title, arriving in New York as one of the leading contenders.
The mixed doubles initiative is likely to remain a feature in future years, with organizers aiming to capitalize on the appeal of star singles players in alternative formats.
While the Raducanu-Alcaraz pairing ended in a first-round loss, it highlighted the event’s potential to attract large audiences and generate discussion at the beginning of the tournament week.
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