Emma Raducanu showed where her loyalties lie with Carlos Alcaraz snub

Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz are both in action at the US Open on Friday, but the Brit was nowhere to be seen while her friend was playing in 2023 thanks to her F1 fascination

Emma Raducanu showed her passion for Formula 1 after choosing the track over watching fellow tennis ace Carlos Alcaraz. The US Open contender opted to keep up with the Silverstone results rather than watch Alcaraz’s match at Wimbledon 2023.

The 22-year-old had to skip Wimbledon two years ago due to a series of surgeries shortly before the tournament. However, she chose to follow the British Grand Prix during her recovery instead of letting tennis consume all her time, even when Alcaraz was playing.

Both Raducanu, who won the major in 2021, and Alcaraz are set to compete at the 2025 US Open on Friday. Raducanu is preparing to face ninth seed Elena Rybakina in the women’s singles third round, while Alcaraz will take on Luciano Darderi in his efforts to progress further.

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Unseeded Raducanu has been a formidable presence in New York, storming into the third round after losing only six games in her first two matches. Alcaraz, also 22, has not lost a set yet at the Grand Slam as he aims to clinch the title for the second time.

The Daily Express reported how while most tennis enthusiasts were glued to the rising star’s match against Nicolas Jarry at Wimbledon 2023, Raducanu had other plans. She shared photos of herself watching the British GP qualifiers just as Alcaraz was fighting his way through the competition at SW19.

The Toronto-born star was once a motorsport hopeful before dedicating herself entirely to tennis. Raducanu spent her younger years racing go-karts and competing in motocross before abandoning those pursuits in favour of her racket.

And despite building a friendship with Alcaraz through the years, it demonstrates precisely where her allegiances rest when F1 drama is on the line. While future world No. 1 Alcaraz was battling to advance in London, Raducanu shared a snap of herself glued to the telly with the British GP taking centre stage.

The rising star is a massive admirer of Lewis Hamilton and has previously described the seven-time F1 world champion as an inspiration of hers. And there are precious few bigger names in British sport one could wish to have in their contacts.

“He’s been such a good role model for me in terms of helping me out and through these next stages,” she said about the then-Mercedes driver after revealing she had received guidance from Hamilton following her triumph at the 2021 US Open. “He’s a really cool person.”

Given her own motorsport heritage, it’s hardly surprising Hamilton should serve as a role model to Raducanu. And that wasn’t her sole encounter with the F1 icon.

“At the Met Gala I spoke to Lewis Hamilton, which was really cool being such a fan of motorsport and Formula 1,” she said, recalling her encounter with the seasoned driver shortly after her unexpected Grand Slam victory four years ago. “It was really nice to see him and speak to him there.”

Raducanu and Alcaraz paired up at this year’s US Open as part of the revamped mixed doubles but were knocked out in the first round. However, she’ll be cheering on her mate from close quarters this time as they both aim to secure their places in the next phase of the tournament.

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