The 2025 US Open has kicked off in a spectacular fashion, with top singles stars teaming up to showcase their doubles prowess under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadium. As mixed doubles drew packed crowds and fierce competition, the pair of Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz quickly became the center of attention. One moment in their Round of 16 match caught the attention of the entire tennis world.
How Did Emma Raducanu React to Carlos Alcaraz’s Move?
The British-Spanish duo faced off against the No.1 seed, Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper, on Arthur Ashe Stadium in the Round of 16 match. The top seed comfortably won the first set 4-2, and they were on their way to winning the second set.
In the second set of the second game, Pegula-Draper had the lead, and the opposing team was just a point away from equalising the score. Draper started testing Raducanu’s limits relentlessly, hitting continuously towards her and making her cover the entire court. She eventually fell short on one particular shot. Then came the moment of excellence from Alcaraz.
Carlos brought the around-the-net shot to mixed doubles! pic.twitter.com/TS1Fem70Y3
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 19, 2025
Alcaraz pulled off an around-the-net shot, shocking his partner with a point-saver. His unique shot during the match speaks about his court awareness and shows his on-court prowess. Raducanu was visibly stunned by the shot as her face lit up instantly with a wide smile, showing how impressive the shot was.
Despite the innovative shot, the duo lost the match 2-4, 2-4 to Pegula-Draper and got eliminated in the first round.
US Open Mixed Doubles Day 1 Shocks and Semifinal Lineups
The first day of the US Open Mixed Doubles ended with many shocking results. Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilović were upset by Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva 4–2, 5–3, after two costly double faults from Danilović in the second set. Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka served a combined 11 aces, but still, they bowed out 4–2, 5–4(4) to Karolína Muchová and Andrey Rublev.
The pair of Naomi Osaka and Gaël Monfils fell 5–3, 4–2 to Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti. The second seeds, Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz, also crashed out 4–2, 4–2 to defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who remain the only doubles specialists left in the draw.
In the quarterfinals, Pegula and Draper continued their run by defeating Medvedev and Andreeva 4–1, 4–1, while Iga Świątek and Casper Ruud advanced with a 4–1, 4–2 victory over McNally and Musetti. Errani and Vavassori survived a tight contest against Muchová and Rublev 4–1, 5–4(4), and late entrants Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison upset the American duo of Ben Shelton and Taylor Townsend 4–1, 5–4(2).
Semifinal matches are now set between Pegula-Draper vs. Świątek-Rudd and Errani-Vavassori vs. Collins/Harrison.
