Certain tennis fans have spent the summer arguing that Carlos Alcaraz’s mixed-doubles partnership with Emma Raducanu was the US Open’s idea, and came about for commercial reasons, rather than being an organic arrangement between two old friends.

Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz face Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula in first round of revamped tournament at Flushing Meadows

Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu are set to be partners for the upcoming mixed doubles event at the US Open despite major doubt over whether the Wimbledon finalist would make it