4 years after making history, Emma Raducanu reveals how Carlos Alcaraz’s “breakout” success helped her win US Open as a qualifier

Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, revealed how Carlos Alcaraz’s breakthrough performance at the same tournament fueled her motivation to win as a qualifier, per Tennis365. Speaking in Eastbourne, Raducanu, now 22, reflected on their parallel rises during the 2021 US Open, saying, “I’ve known him for years and actually in Wimbledon 2021, it was like kind of the first time I started getting to know him… And I remember he was always playing the day before me and I would see him win and then I would have motivation to win and get myself into that position too,” per. Alcaraz’s third-round upset of world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2), 0-6, 7-6(5)) marked his breakout, inspiring Raducanu, who watched his matches and drew confidence from his success, per Marca.

Raducanu, then ranked No. 150, became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam, defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the final without dropping a set, per The Guardian. Alcaraz, 18, reached the quarterfinals, losing to Felix Auger-Aliassime, but his run galvanized Raducanu, who noted, “I remember he beat Stef in the third round and it was like a big win, his breakout kind of win on a big stage and it was really cool to kind of, I guess, go through that tournament together,” per Tennis365. Their frequent communication during the event, via messages, strengthened their bond, with Raducanu valuing their “genuine connection” from their junior days, per The Guardian.

Now, as they prepare to team up for the US Open mixed doubles event on August 19-20, 2025, Raducanu’s comments highlight how Alcaraz’s fearless play in 2021 pushed her to her historic title, per BBC Sport. X posts, like @TrackerTennis, underscored this shared history, amplifying fan excitement for their “Alcaranu” partnership, per.