Were they dating? Fans speculate after Emma Raducanu's cold handshake with compatriot Jack Draper

Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz lost their opening match to Draper and Jessica Pegula.

Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open mixed doubles campaign ended in disappointment, but it wasn’t the loss that grabbed headlines—it was what happened at the net right after.

The high-profile pairing of Britain’s No.1 Raducanu and ATP World No. 2 Alcaraz were beaten soundly by compatriot Jack Draper and home favourite Jessica Pegula in their Round of 16 clash on Tuesday (August 19).

Playing under the revamped “fast four” format at Flushing Meadows, Draper and Pegula controlled the match, winning 4-2, 4-2.

But the real drama unfolded after the final point. At the customary post-match interaction, Carlos Alcaraz shook hands warmly with both Draper and Pegula, and Raducanu shared a friendly hug with Pegula.

Yet when it came to her fellow Brit, Draper, the exchange was noticeably colder. It just a brief handshake and no hug. Apparently, Emma was avoiding the hug with Jack. The moment looked awkward enough that fans quickly began speculating on social media.

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“Looks like they have some history,” one of the fans wrote. Another called it “lol too awkward” and even suggested ‘ex vibes.’

Now adding fuel to the fire, some of the fans pointed out that Draper’s approach during the match itself, where he appeared to target Raducanu with aggressive shot selections.

“Of course the incels are blaming Emma. Throughout the match Jack was targeting her relentlessly. He treated this fun match like it was serious and literally every time he got the ball on his racket he was firing it directly at Emma. I wouldn’t have hugged him either,” wrote one fan.

While the rumours are being spread after the incident, there is no previous evidence or public incident linking Raducanu and Draper beyond this moment.

Alcaraz and Raducanu will next be in action in main event at US Open, while Draper-Pegula will aim to continue their run in the revamped US Open mixed doubles event. The top seeded pair Brit-American pair will next be in action in the semi-finals against third seeded duo of Iga Swiatek-Casper Ruud.

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