Emma Raducanu has urged other grand slam tournaments to follow the US Open's lead in revamping mixed doubles, after enjoying her partnership with Carlos Alcaraz in the new-look event. The US Open moved the competition to qualifying week and altered entry criteria to favour singles players, a change Raducanu believes should be replicated elsewhere.
“I think it would be so fun if all the slams got involved and did something similar, even if it was not the exact same format,” she said. “I think it was a huge success. I think so many fans got involved, so many people watching and tuned in. It got a lot of attention. I think it was a great idea.”
Raducanu, who won the US Open in 2021, said she is now able to enjoy returning to Flushing Meadows, unlike her difficult comeback in 2022. “I think now is the first time that I feel like I can come back to the US Open and really enjoy the memories that I made here and be proud of that,” she said. “I feel in a much better place now.”
She begins her campaign against a qualifier, having pushed world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to a deciding-set tie-break in Cincinnati. Raducanu credited a consistent summer, including a semi-final in Washington and a run in Montreal, for her growing confidence. The tournament is her first grand slam under new coach Francisco Roig, formerly part of Rafael Nadal's team, who broke the ice by recalling a doubles win with Nadal on the same Montreal court.
Meanwhile, Fran Jones continued her breakthrough run by defeating Arianne Hartono 6-2, 6-4 to qualify for the main draw without dropping a set. Jones, who was born with Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia, a rare genetic condition, recently reached a career-high ranking of No 84.
