Emma Raducanu has addressed the swirling rumors about a potential romance with fellow tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, just ahead of her Wimbledon campaign. The speculation ignited after the announcement that the pair would team up for mixed doubles at the US Open. Adding fuel to the fire, Raducanu was seen supporting Alcaraz at the Queen's Club Championships earlier in June, sparking considerable buzz among fans.
During a pre-Wimbledon press conference, the British No.1 was directly asked about the nature of her relationship with the Spanish sensation. With a smile, Raducanu responded, "We're just good friends". When a reporter jokingly suggested wrapping up the press conference at that point, Raducanu quipped, "Way to wrap up".
Raducanu elaborated on her and Alcaraz's practice session at Wimbledon, stating, "It was fun yesterday. We were both on court with Evian... We were just getting some volley practice in ahead of New York. Yeah, I'm really happy obviously to be playing with him. Yeah, we had a good time yesterday". She also revealed that Alcaraz initiated the mixed doubles partnership, saying, "He asked me earlier on in the year, and I was very surprised, honored, and excited".
The two Grand Slam champions, both aged 22, share a friendly bond that dates back to Wimbledon 2021. "I've known him for years," Raducanu explained. "Wimbledon 2021 was the first time I started getting to know him". She also praised Alcaraz's character, describing him as "so nice, very happy, amazing values and just a really positive light to be around".
Meanwhile, Danielle Collins has added a humorous twist to the situation. Collins playfully reacted to Raducanu's denial of the romance rumors. It appears Collins was implying Raducanu's response was a crushing blow to those hoping for a romantic connection between the two tennis stars.
Raducanu's personal life has been a subject of public interest since her historic US Open win in 2021. She was previously in a relationship with Carlo Agostinelli, the son of a billionaire financier, but they reportedly split in the summer of 2024. Despite being linked to fellow tennis players like Jack Draper, Raducanu maintains that they are just friends. Raducanu has also stated that her parents were very strict about her dating during her younger years, as they believed it would interfere with her training.
As Raducanu prepares for her first-round match against British wildcard Mimi Xu at Wimbledon, she is tempering expectations. "Truthfully I don't expect much from myself this year," she admitted. "I know I've just been dealing with certain things. I just want to go out there and embrace the moment". Similarly, Alcaraz is gearing up for his Wimbledon campaign, where he will face Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round.
