Draper and Pegula prove too strong in straight-sets win
Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula dominated their first-round encounter, defeating Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu 4-2 4-2 in just 51 minutes. Raducanu dropped her serve in the very first game of the match, and although Alcaraz and Raducanu fought to stay close, that single break was enough to hand the opening set to Draper and Pegula.
Second set resistance but no comeback
Alcaraz and Raducanu briefly took the lead at 1-0 in the second set, but Draper quickly turned the tide with his powerful and accurate serving. Breaking back to move ahead 2-1, Draper and Pegula kept control. Raducanu showed resilience by saving three break points to hold for 3-2, but Draper sealed the match in the following game with a forehand winner on the third match point.
Spotlight on the revamped mixed doubles
The mixed doubles format has drawn attention at this year’s US Open, having been rescheduled to start before the main tournament. With $1 million in prize money awaiting the winners of the 16-pair draw, the early defeat for Alcaraz and Raducanu ends their run before it had a chance to gain momentum, while Draper and Pegula march confidently into the quarter-finals.
