Mark Petchey has shot down rumours of tennis superstars Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz being in a secret romantic relationship.
Some media outlets have speculated that Raducanu and Alcaraz have been dating behind the scenes – but Petchey insists this is not the case.
Alcaraz and Raducanu are playing together in the US Open mixed doubles this year, which has further fuelled talk that the the two players might secretly be boyfriend and girlfriend off the court.
The rumours have been around for a while – with Alcaraz quizzed aboutthe ‘jokes on social media’ in a Wimbledon press conference last year.
In June this year, Raducanu laughed off the speculation, with the British No.1 insisting that she was ‘just friends’ with the Spanish star.
‘Raducanu and Alcaraz are not going out’
Raducanu’s former coach Petchey has now weighed in on the rumours about the two 22-year-olds in an interview with OLBG.
‘They are just good friends,’ Petchey said about Alcaraz and Raducanu. ‘She’s good friends with a lot of people out there on the tour.
‘The media is going to be the media. Obviously, I know there’s suggestions that they are going out.
‘That’s not the case. They’re just good friends. The reality is they’re only there [at the US Open] to play tennis.’
Petchey buzzing over ‘exciting’ mixed doubles
The US Open’s revamped mixed doubles tournament got underway today (Tuesday, August 19), featuring a blockbuster lineup of star-studded teams.
The two-day knockout competition has been controversial and has led to criticism from some players and pundits.
Defending US Open mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori blasted the changes as a ‘profound injustice’ and a ‘pseudo-exhibition’ that disrespects doubles specialists.
Tennis icon Martina Navratilova added that it ‘makes a mockery of the title’ by excluding doubles experts.
Petchey, though, has defended the US Open mixed doubles and said: ‘It’s exciting for us as fans and I think it’s actually very exciting for the players that are involved in it as well.
‘Emma and Carlos are excited to play and all the players that I spoke to at Montreal and Cincinnati are all excited to play. They’re all thrilled with the opportunity.
‘I’m a big fan of the event, I’m a big fan of what they’ve tried to create, and there may be a bit of tweaking here and there as we go forward.
‘The thing about tennis is if you don’t try it, you’ll never know, and you can go back if it doesn’t work. But I think it’s going to be a massive success.’
