Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz are set to make their doubles team debut in August and the British star has already dropped an early tactic she might employ.
Alcaraz and Raducanu will compete in the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, a brand-new competition taking place at Flushing Meadows in August.
The two young stars will pair up and take on teams such as Jack Draper and Qinwen Zheng, Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro, and Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.
There’s $1 million in prize money for the winners and Raducanu has revealed her plans heading into the tournament.
Emma Raducanu will take Carlos Alcaraz’s lead at US Open
There’s incredible anticipation for Alcaraz and Raducanu’s doubles debut as two of the most popular stars on the tour.
The two superstars have been friends for a long time, and they confirmed their doubles debut with a hilarious social video.
In the clip, the two stars ask each other ‘tough’ questions to test their brand-new doubles team and see if they’re up to the challenge.
“What would you pick if we win the coin toss?” asked Alcaraz to Raducanu via the US Open X account before the British No. 1 joked: “I’d let you pick. I’m just gonna take his lead.”
Alcaraz, clearly bemused, laughed and joked: “All the pressure is on me!”
The US Open Mixed Doubles Championship takes place on August 19 and 20, the week before the traditional US Open.
Grand Slam champion unhappy about US Open Mixed Doubles Championship
While some fans are incredibly excited about the biggest names in the game being paired together, doubles players have suggested the tournament is squeezing them out of the game.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Jan Zielinski, who won Wimbledon and the Australian Open last year, has slammed the tournament.
“I guess winning two grand slams in mixed doubles in one year is not enough to get an invitation to US Open exhibition event,” said Zielinski.
The 28-year-old sarcastically added: “Thanks for taking away the opportunity to compete and making it fair to everyone.”