Details of the strict dating rules that tennis star Emma Raducanu once followed have been revealed after she shut down rumours of a relationship with Carlos Alcaraz.
After months of anticipation, two of the best tennis players in the world right now, Raducanu and Alcaraz, stepped onto the US Open court to compete together in the new mixed doubles format.
Unfortunately, the pair were extremely unlucky in the draw for the event and faced top seeds Jessica Pegula and British partner Jack Draper in the opening around.
The popular pair lost the match 4-2, 4-2, putting a swift end to Raducanu and Alcaraz’s doubles partnership. But that hasn’t stopped fans from continuing to speculate that their relationship may be more than just a tennis partnership.
However, after Raducanu spoke out to address the rumours, details of the strict rules on her dating life have been revealed.
Tennis fans have speculated that Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz could be dating. (Image: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
After their partnership was announced in June shortly before the beginning of Wimbledon, rumours regarding Alcaraz and Raducanu’s dating lives immediately began to appear online.
Since then, the pair have kept their cards close to their chest, claiming that they are just good friends while acknowledging the reports and fan theories.
Briefly speaking about rumours about her and Alcaraz, Raducanu told the Guardian: “I guess it comes with the territory, people being so curious.
“I think they’re more curious about this news than any tennis results and tennis news. But I just keep to myself, my private life to one side.
“It’s always funny when people try to find something out, but I try not to read into it so much.”
But this isn’t anything new for the tennis ace, who has kept the details of her love life away from the public eye throughout her career.
Raducanu was previously in a relationship with billionaire Carlo Agostinelli. (Image:Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
Emma Raducanu followed one strict dating rule during her early career
No doubt, Raducanu’s desire for privacy regarding her potential relationship is something that was instilled in her by parents Ion and Renee, who established a strict dating rule during her youth.
“My parents were very much against that [boyfriends] as it interfered with training,” she told the Times in May.
“When I was younger I wasn’t even allowed to hang out with my girlfriends. A lot of the time I was very resentful.
“But it made me very confident and comfortable in my own company, which is also a big strength.”
However, there is one relationship that the 22-year-old did make public as she made several public appearances with ex-boyfriend Carlo Agostinelli during their time together.
Raducanu met Agostinelli, who is a former Spurs academy player and the billionaire son of businessman Robert Agostinelli, in May 2023 and were first seen together at Paris Fashion Week.
But, it now appears that their relationship has ended, as the pair unfollowed each other on Instagram in June.
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Emma Raducanu refuses to hug Jack Draper after US Open match and fans think they know why
Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz lost in straight sets to Draper and Jessica Pegula in the US Open mixed doubles tournament.
Tennis fans think they’ve worked out why Emma Raducanu didn’t embrace Jack Draper after their first round match in the US Open mixed doubles tournament.
Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz lost in straight sets to the team of Draper and Jessica Pegula in round one, with the latter then defeating Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-final later on Tuesday.
US Open organisers have revamped the mixed doubles format for this year, with significantly increased prize money leading to the world’s top stars signing up to take part.
Alcaraz, Draper and Novak Djokovic have entered as top men’s players, while women’s stars Pegula, Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova also taking part.
Mixed doubles matches are played in a best-of-two format, with teams needed to win four games in a set – five if the scores reach 4-3.
The Alcaraz and Raducanu pairing was much-hyped heading into the event, though WTA world number four Pegula – who has extensive doubles experience – and British men’s number one Draper had too much quality at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
After the match, fans spotted a slightly awkward moment between Draper and Raducanu, with the pair shaking hands before then appearing to back out of a hug.
There were no such issues between Alcaraz and Pegula, or Alcaraz and Draper.
The rules of mixed doubles allow for men’s players to serve to women, and vice versa.
But some fans were not happy with Draper and claimed that he ‘targeted’ Raducanu during rallies – believing the 2021 US Open women’s champion to have felt the same way.
One wrote: “He went hard after her the whole match and they both knew it.”
A second said: “He targeted her like he was mad at her.”
And a third asked: “First net point Jack went straight to Emma’s feet, maybe that?”
But others argued otherwise, with one writing: “It’s called tennis where you’re out there to win.”
A second added: “Have people only just discovered mixed doubles?”
And a third opined: “For me, both Jessica and Draper were clearly targeting Raducanu and so what?”
Draper on Raducanu
Speaking in a news conference ahead of the tournament, Draper was asked about Raducanu’s decision to team up with Alcaraz at the US Open event.
But the 23-year-old insisted that he had no problems with his fellow British number one’s choice.
“A wise person once told me that you should find the best partner, and that’s what she did in Alcaraz,” he replied. “I don’t blame her at all for that.
“I think she’ll have a lot of fun playing with Carlos. He’s the best player in the world right now, probably, along with Sinner. And he’s great at doubles as well – I saw that with Rafa [Nadal] at the Olympics.
“She’s gone by the book and chosen the best partner there, for sure. Hopefully they do well.”
Emma Raducanu breaks silence as ‘refusal’ to hug Jack Draper goes viral after US Open match
Raducanu and her US Open mixed doubles partner, Carlos Alcaraz, fell to a defeat against Draper and Jessica Pegula on Tuesday.
British tennis player Emma Raducanu has broken her silence following her and Carlos Alcaraz’s mixed doubles round of 16 defeat at the US Open on Tuesday.
Raducanu, 22, and her mixed doubles partner Alcaraz, also 22, fell to a 4-2, 4-2 defeat against fellow Brit Jack Draper and his teammate Jessica Pegula in the revamped competition.
Pegula, 31, and Draper, 23, then went on to defeat Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva 4-1, 4-1 in the quarter-finals to set up a semi-final clash against Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud on Thursday.
However, despite the high-class tennis on display during Raducanu and Alcaraz’s match, fans noticed that the 2021 US Open women’s singles winner did not appear to hug Draper, but she did hug Pegula.
However, it must be noted that the pair did shake hands and briefly exchange what appeared to be warm words.
Nonetheless, fans still suggested several theories on social media.