Emma Raducanu has finally addressed rumours surrounding her off-court connection with Carlos Alcaraz.
The pair are due to partner in doubles at the US Open in August, but speculation about a possible bond beyond the tennis court has grown after Raducanu was seen supporting the Spanish star at the Queen’s Club Championships earlier this month.
Raducanu was seen supporting Alcaraz last Thursday and Saturday, sparking talk around Queen’s that there might be ‘something going on between them’, as the pair were spotted laughing and joking together and arriving at the venue just minutes apart.
Their most recent link-up came this week, with Alcaraz being confirmed as the latest global ambassador of Evian ahead of Wimbledon – the tournament’s official water supplier since 2008.
Raducanu also works with Evian, her collaborative work starting after she became the hottest property in British sport by winning the US Open in 2021, which led to her signing lucrative deals with the likes of Nike and Christian Dior.
When asked whether they had discussed tactics for the US Open during the Evian event, the British No 1 said: ‘No, it was fun yesterday. We were both on court with Evian.
Emma Raducanu insisted she is ‘just good friends’ with Carlos Alcaraz amid romance rumours
Raducanu, 22, and Alcaraz, 22, will team up as doubles partners at the US Open in August
The pair featured as ambassadors in an event earlier this week with water company Evian
‘Yeah, we were just getting some volley practicing ahead of New York. Yeah, I’m really happy obviously to be playing with him. Yeah, we had a good time yesterday.’
Later in the press conference, Raducanu was inevitably asked about the romance rumours, to which she smiled and said: ‘We’re just good friends.’
The interview moderator then cut off further questions, prompting Raducanu to laugh and remark: ‘Way to wrap up!’
The two US Open champions – Raducanu won in 2021, Alcaraz a year later – are good friends, growing up together on the tour.
‘He’s so nice, very happy, amazing values and just a really positive light to be around,’ said Raducanu about Alcaraz when asked how their bond began.
‘I’ve known him for years. Wimbledon 2021 was the first time I started getting to know him. He was always playing the day before me, I would see him win and then I would have motivation to win and get myself into that position too.
‘It was really cool to go through that tournament together and then I kept going through the US Open, we were staying in touch for the whole time and, yeah, it’s nice.
‘We have a good relationship still. He’s obviously overtaken me a lot, but it’s nice that we have that from a while ago.’
Raducanu was also seen at Queen’s earlier this month supporting Alcaraz from the stands
Both US Open winners, the pair are long-time friends, first meeting at Wimbledon in 2021
Alcaraz, also 22, told Mail Sport at Queen’s that Raducanu made him wait before agreeing to team up.
‘Gotta keep them on their toes!’ Raducanu joked. ‘I had to ask my team if they thought I should play, but when he asked me, I was going to say yes, I just had to go through the formality of asking my coach.’
Ahead of Wimbledon, Alcaraz clinched his second Queen’s Club title with a thrilling 7–5, 6–7(5), 6–2 win over Jiri Lehecka last Sunday.
Raducanu’s most recent outing was at Eastbourne, where she was edged out by Australia’s Maya Joint, losing 4–6, 6–1, 7–6(7–4) after rallying from 2–5 down.
