LOVE-40

BRITISH number one Emma Raducanu refused to be drawn on rumours of a relationship with French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz as the duo gear up for a doubles partnership at the US Open.

Raducanu and Alcaraz practiced together at Wimbledon on Friday as part of a sponsors commitment and will play alongside each other at Flushing Meadows in September in the mixed doubles.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, 22, revealed last week he had made the request to play with Raducanu, who shot to fame when she won the US Open in 2021.

“We're just good friends,” said a smiling Raducanu when asked about speculation that the two are dating.

“It was fun [on Friday]. We were both on court with Evian. We were just getting some volley practicing ahead of New York.

“I’m really happy obviously to be playing with him. Yeah, we had a good time.”

In contrast to Alcara’'s meteoric rise since making his major breakthrough at the US Open three years ago, Raducanu has struggled to shine under the spotlight since becoming a household name.

The 22-year-old has never progressed beyond the fourth round of the Grand Slam since winning in New York and has been battling a back injury heading into Wimbledon.

Raducanu added: “Truthfully I don't expect much from myself this year. I know I've just been dealing with certain things. I just want to go out there and embrace the moment.

“I know there's not many opportunities to be playing at Wimbledon. You get it once a year and for a finite amount of time.

“I’m just looking forward to going out there and feeling the surroundings and the atmosphere.”

Raducanu, meanwhile, was the victim of a stalker earlier this year, with the man also gated at to attend Wimbledon recently after trying to buy tickets to the event. 

In March this year, Raducanu revealed that she “couldn’t see the ball through the tears” after being targeted by a stalker during February’s Dubai WTA 1000 tournament.

The British tennis star was left distraught after a man later said to be displaying “fixated behavior” appeared at a courtside seat during her defeat to Karolina Muchova.

The man was escorted away by security, subsequently given a restraining order and banned from attending WTA Tour events, yet he tried to get tickets to Wimbledon which started yesterday. 

Recounting the details of her Dubai ordeal, where she briefly took refuge behind the umpire’s chair after alerting officials to the man’s presence, Raducanu said she had been “obviously very distraught”.

She explained: “I saw him in the first game of the match, and I was like ‘I don't know how I’m going to finish’.

“I literally couldn’t see the ball through the tears, I could barely breathe…

“It was a very emotional time and after the match I did completely break down in tears.”

In contrast to Alcara’'s meteoric rise since making his major breakthrough at the US Open three years ago, Raducanu has struggled to shine under the spotlight since becoming a household name.

The 22-year-old has never progressed beyond the fourth round of the Grand Slam since winning in New York and has been battling a back injury heading into Wimbledon.

Raducanu added: “Truthfully I don't expect much from myself this year. I know I've just been dealing with certain things. I just want to go out there and embrace the moment.

“I know there's not many opportunities to be playing at Wimbledon. You get it once a year and for a finite amount of time.

“I’m just looking forward to going out there and feeling the surroundings and the atmosphere.”

Raducanu, meanwhile, was the victim of a stalker earlier this year, with the man also gated at to attend Wimbledon recently after trying to buy tickets to the event. 

In March this year, Raducanu revealed that she “couldn’t see the ball through the tears” after being targeted by a stalker during February’s Dubai WTA 1000 tournament.

The British tennis star was left distraught after a man later said to be displaying “fixated behavior” appeared at a courtside seat during her defeat to Karolina Muchova.

The man was escorted away by security, subsequently given a restraining order and banned from attending WTA Tour events, yet he tried to get tickets to Wimbledon which started yesterday. 

Recounting the details of her Dubai ordeal, where she briefly took refuge behind the umpire’s chair after alerting officials to the man’s presence, Raducanu said she had been “obviously very distraught”.

She explained: “I saw him in the first game of the match, and I was like ‘I don't know how I’m going to finish’.

“I literally couldn’t see the ball through the tears, I could barely breathe…

“It was a very emotional time and after the match I did completely break down in tears.”