Fact-check: Did Emma Raducanu have an influence on Carlos Alcaraz's Wimbledon final performance? Why the Spaniard was asked about the Brit's presence
Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon 2024 final against Novak Djokovic was attended by several high-profile celebrities, but Emma Raducanu’s presence caught the media’s attention. The Spaniard touched on Raducanu's visit, clarifying the details in his post-match press conference.
Alcaraz won his second title at Wimbledon on Sunday, July 14, beating repeat opponent Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Meanwhile, for Raducanu, her run was halted on the previous Sunday.
The Brit, who missed last year’s tournament after undergoing wrist and ankle surgeries, lost in the fourth round by a breakout opponent, Lulu Sun, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. It was Emma Raducanu’s best result at a Grand Slam since her 2021 US Open triumph.
Despite her early exit, Raducanu returned to SW19 on the final Sunday to watch Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic. After spotting the 21-year-old in the crowd, tennis fans on X hilariously concluded that the eventual champion upped the ante to “impress” her.
"Carlos saw Emma in the crowd and went full prime (Roger Federer), fairs completely understandable," one fan joked.
"Is Carlos playing to impress her lol," another fan chimed in.
The tennis community’s reactions stem from the ongoing, unfounded rumors about the pair’s relationship. The narrative was seemingly fueled by Raducanu mistakenly responding to a fake tweet about Alcaraz’s words of support for her last year.
However, for clarification from the player himself, the Spanish media asked Carlos Alcaraz if Emma Raducanu’s presence had a positive impact on his performance and whether she was in the stands to support him.
"(There are) jokes on social media that Carlos was playing like that because there’s Emma Raducanu watching on bench. Did (she) come to see you in particular?" one journalist asked.
Laughing off the narrative, the World No. 3 said:
"I don't know. I don’t know. I think a lot of people have come to see the final. I think Novak, and I always put on a good show on the court. I think it's a very nice game to watch," he said (Translated from Spanish via Google Translate).
Alcaraz concluded that the Brit, who lives in London, must’ve attended the Wimbledon final, given that it was one of the key events taking place in the city.
"Uh, she being from here, I imagine that she wanted to come see it, just as if there were a Grand Slam in Murcia (Alcaraz’s hometown), I would go to see the final 100%, even if I didn’t play."
"I hope Emma Raducanu enjoyed the final" – Carlos Alcaraz on his Wimbledon 2024 triumph
Entertaining the question, Carlos Alcaraz said that only Emma Raducanu can answer if she was at the Wimbledon final to support him or watched it as a neutral fan.
"I don't know if she has come to see the final, if she has come to see me. Well, who knows the truth? Will have to ask her," he said in the aforementioned press conference.
Nevertheless, the four-time Grand Slam champion hoped that the fellow 21-year-old enjoyed the match.
"But I hope she enjoyed the final," he added.
On the tennis front, Carlos Alcaraz is gearing up for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Emma Raducanu, meanwhile, has decided against competing at the event. The Brit, who recently re-entered the world’s top 100, will instead compete at the WTA 500 Citi Open (July 29–August 4), having received a wildcard.