US Open Mixed Doubles: Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula make light work of dream duo Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz

The highly touted team of Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu mainly due to reporting more about perceived relationship status over the tennis fell early at the US Open Mixed Doubles to the team of Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula 4-2, 4-2.

Pegula of course is an accomplished doubles player in her own right and so is a great partner to have by the side of Draper who initially went through changes of Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa until both ended up withdrawing due to injury with the former having surgery.

While Raducanu and Alcaraz was a bit of a dream storm for the press as they were announced and were the talk of the Wimbledon campaign albeit sometimes negatively with Cameron Norrie for instance asked about Raducanu's relationship status. Alcaraz stayed loyal to the commitment to play even after a gruelling week in Cincinnati but given it is a one shot, he can now focus on the main event.

Draper and Pegula took an opening break of serve as Draper reacted quickly to then net for 30-0 before Alcaraz overhit for 40-0. Draper returned long and Alcaraz and Raducanu were off the mark but the Brit returned to seal it 1-0.

Pegula had her turn to serve and Draper went long before making amends at the net. Raducanu slightly over hit the shot at the back of the court but so did Pegula. Alcaraz looked to meet a Pegula forehand at the net but it flattered to deceive and the Spaniard though hit a powerful forehand out as they went 3-1 down.

Raducanu breezed through the next game surveying and beating Draper forehands to make it 3-2. Draper and Pegula recovered and the Brit had the first set point but Alcaraz saved it on the second attempt. The Spaniard appeared to take a shot off Raducanu but hit it long and Draper and Pegula sealed the opener.

Alcaraz and Raducanu started better in set two. Raducanu double faulted and hit a forehand wide to take it to deuce. But Draper slid to rescue a deep shot. Only for Alcaraz to mop up. But Draper and Pegula broke serve. Alcaraz opened the game with a sweeping shot down the line. Pegula returned long but the Spaniard couldn't keep a smash in. The World Number Two hit it into the net and he met Draper's return. Pegula's return was long that Raducanu defended but it was out. Raducanu hit it wide and Draper and Pegula broke serve.

In a similar script to the first set, they sealed it 4-2. Alcaraz went wide with an easy forehand winner and Draper beat the Spaniard. Raducanu saved it at the baseline and Draper hit wide on the follow up. But Pegula showed her court craft in doubles by setting up two match points. It was Draper though that finished it off to take the match.