Raducanu and Draper’s formal handshake triggers speculation after US Open loss

The modified mixed doubles tournament at the US Open invites top singles stars to team up with opponents of the opposite gender. In the week leading up to the tournament in New York, intense anticipation surrounded the formation of exciting pairings and draws, including that of ATP number two Carlos Alcaraz and British star Emma Raducanu. Their first-round opponent was a high-profile team of Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, top seeds of the tournament. Draper and Pegula won the match with a score of 4-2, 4-2 in this ‘fast four’ format game.

Fans found the end of the match noteworthy as every player engaged in warm interactions at the net, except for British players, Raducanu and Draper, who only exchanged a fleeting handshake. The interaction stirred attention among tennis enthusiasts. Draper and Pegula later defeated Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-final and advanced to the semi-finals where they will face Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.

On the other hand, Alcaraz, the Cincinnati Open champion, has been favoured for the US Open after Jannik Sinner battled with illness during their finals at the Masters event. Last year’s semi-finalist, Draper is also focused on enhancing his performance in New York. Raducanu, the 2021 US Open winner, has not replicated the same grand slam success since. However, she is currently in great form and approaching the top 30, preparing to challenge higher-ranked seeds in the women’s draw.