Emma Raducanu has broken her silence on the viral moment when she appeared to snub a hug from fellow Brit Jack Draper after their 4-2, 4-2 first-round loss to Draper and Jessica Pegula in the 2025 US Open mixed doubles on August 19. The 2021 US Open champion, paired with Carlos Alcaraz, sparked speculation with her brief, cold handshake with Draper, contrasting her warm embraces with Alcaraz and Pegula. In a lighthearted Instagram post on August 20, 2025, Raducanu clarified the moment, joking, “Carlos told me if I hug Jack then we’re through. He gets really jealous” (@emmaraducanu, web:14), dispelling rumors of tension while highlighting her playful chemistry with Alcaraz (web:0, post:0).
The Viral Incident
The awkward exchange at the net, captured on video, went viral after Draper leaned in for an expected hug, only for Raducanu, 22, to offer a quick handshake with minimal eye contact before warmly hugging Pegula and Alcaraz. Fans on X speculated wildly, with posts like, “Jack Draper went for the hug, but Emma… awkward 😬 #USOpen2025” (@sports99x, August 20, 2025) (post:2). Some attributed her reaction to Draper’s aggressive tactics, targeting her with serves and shots, with one fan noting, “He was targeting her the whole match. I’d be pissed too” (@SandrineK92, web:2). Others fueled baseless rumors of past romantic ties, amplified by Nick Kyrgios’s earlier “love triangle” jest (web:3, post:5).
Raducanu’s Response and Match Context
Raducanu’s Instagram post, accompanied by a photo of her and Alcaraz smiling, emphasized their fun on court, with her praising his “insane” around-the-net forehand winner that left her stunned (web:14). The “Alcaranu” duo struggled in the fast-four format, with Alcaraz’s serve broken early, leading to a 4-2 first-set loss. Despite Raducanu saving three match points, Draper sealed the 51-minute victory (web:4, web:12). Raducanu reflected, “It was fun, but we wanted to win” (@BBCSport, post:2). Her jest about Alcaraz’s “jealousy” cleverly addressed the handshake drama while reinforcing their friendship, previously clarified as “just friends” amid dating rumors (web:13).
Moving Forward
The incident, set against the high-profile $1 million event, mirrors scrutiny faced by athletes like Coco Gauff, navigating serve issues, or Luke Littler, handling darts fame. Raducanu, now under Rafael Nadal’s ex-coach Francisco Roig, is focusing on the US Open singles starting August 24, aiming to reclaim her 2021 title. Draper and Pegula advanced to the semifinals against Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud (web:10). Raducanu’s witty response has quelled speculation, with fans on X praising her humor, saying, “Emma’s clapback is iconic! Ready for singles” (@TennisFanUK, August 20, 2025) (post:1). The handshake saga, though fleeting, adds intrigue to her US Open journey.
