CARLOS ALCARAZ hailed the support of Emma Raducanu in the Queen’s stands as he booked a spot in the final.
British No1 Raducanu had tennis fans’ tongues wagging as she watched her US Open doubles partner cruise to a straight sets 6-4 6-4 win over Roberto Bautista Agut.
Alcaraz was cool as a cucumber throughout and hit an audacious volley to win the first set over the Spanish 37-year-old to set up today’s final clash with Jiri Lehecka.
The 22-year-old has not lost since April 20 in Barcelona and is enjoying the longest winning streak of his career with 17 successive victories.
But after his victory, much of the talk among fans was about Raducanu’s unexpected appearance in west London.
When asked about Raducanu, who he has previously been romantically linked with online, Alcaraz said: “I saw on social media she came up to watch my match.
“Just glad that she came to support, to watch my match. It was great having her in the stands.”
Further quizzed if he could return the favour by attending some of Raducanu’s matches prior to their US Open date, Alcaraz said: “Well, it depends on the schedule, obviously.
“I have practices. I have matches. Yeah, I would love to, yeah, if I have time, if, you know, if everything — if I’m at the club or I don’t have anything else to do, yeah, I would love to come and watch her.”
Flatteringly, Alcaraz also revealed: “I’m watching her matches from the TV every time that I can. So watching her in real could be fun.”
Raducanu and Alcaraz have announced they will play together in a new-look mixed doubles tournament at the US Open later this year.
Raducanu and Alcaraz, both 22, were the subject of wild dating rumours in 2024.
They heated up last July when Raducanu watched the Spaniard dominate Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.
Alcaraz is in red hot form with four titles to his name already this year and hunting down a third successive Wimbledon title later this month.
First, he will attempt to beat Lehecka to lift his second title in three years at the Queen’s Club.
Raducanu, meanwhile, will be in Eastbourne action tomorrow as she prepares for Wimbledon.
The 22-year-old lost to Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals at Queen’s last week.
Having received treatment on court, Raducanu subsequently pulled out of this week’s WTA 500 event in Berlin.
The former US Open champion is fit again and will take on America’s Ann Li at Devonshire Park on Monday.
Should Raducanu triumph, she could face two-time former Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur in round two.
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