Emma Raducanu has experimented with a number of doubles partners in the last few months, and she’s explained how she goes about picking the players.
Raducanu won her first doubles match with Katie Boulter at Queen’s Club and followed it up with even bigger strides in the format at the Washington Open.
Elena Rybakina and Raducanu reached the semi-finals in Washington, before bowing out to Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai.
Raducanu is set to team with Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open and the British star has revealed how she picks her partners.
Emma Raducanu details the inception of Elena Rybakina doubles team
Raducanu decided to play doubles at the Washington Open in order to ‘get some extra matches in these conditions’ as the star looks to crack the top 32 ahead of the US Open.
The British star wanted to team with Rybakina due to their previous plans at the 2022 Cincinnati Open that fell through.
“She was walking off the practice court, and I was on the practice court, and I was just, like, okay, I’ll give it a shot,” explained Raducanu about asking Rybakina to play doubles.
“I wasn’t really bothered if she said no,” the star revealed in her Washington Open press conference. “I asked her, and she was, like, Yeah, sure. That’s how it came about.”
The pair have not ruled out teaming together again in the future, although it’s unlikely to happen ahead of the US Open.
When is Emma Raducanu back in action?
Raducanu’s hunt for a seeded entry at the US Open continues at the 2025 National Bank Open, which begins on July 27.
The British No. 3 is lined up to face Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round, with 32 seed Peyton Stearns already awaiting the winner.
The star could also play Amanda Anisimova and Elina Svitolina before the last eight of the tournament as the Brit has been handed a tough start in Canada.
Raducanu is not defending any ranking points at the tournament as she did not play the event in 2024.