Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz, the star wildcard pairing, were knocked out of the new-look US Open mixed doubles, but they won over the New York crowd with their on-court charm.
Playing for a $1 million prize, the popular duo lost to fellow Briton Jack Draper and American Jessica Pegula in a match that highlighted the tournament’s controversial new format.
The revamped event, designed to attract top singles players, has drawn criticism from doubles specialists who feel they have been pushed out.
Despite the debate, the “party-like atmosphere” and A-list pairings like Raducanu and Alcaraz have succeeded in drawing huge crowds.
Draper and Pegula, who had too much doubles experience for their opponents, will advance to the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, reigning mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, one of the only specialist teams in the draw, are also through to the semi-finals, determined to prove a point for all sidelined doubles players.
