I know this will cause controversy… but I couldn’t say no to her” – Carlos Alcaraz quietly leaves Toronto, only to appear alongside Emma Raducanu in an unexpected role , as a leaked hotel photo fuels romance rumors.
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The international tennis scene has been rocked by an unexpected decision that has left fans and experts with more questions than answers. Carlos Alcaraz, world number 3 and one of the brightest rising stars on the ATP Tour, quietly announced his withdrawal from the Toronto Masters 1000, citing “personal reasons.” Until then, everything seemed to be part of the usual strategic moves on the professional calendar. However, just hours after his official withdrawal from the Canadian tournament, the young Murcian was spotted in circumstances that were far from recovery or rest.
According to images leaked on social media, Carlos was spotted in the lobby of a luxury hotel in New York accompanied by British tennis player Emma Raducanu. Although speculation about a possible friendship between the two young Grand Slam champions has swirled in recent months, this joint appearance, outside of any official sporting event, immediately rekindled rumors of a romance. But that wasn’t the most striking aspect. What truly surprised everyone was the joint participation of Alcaraz and Raducanu in a special shoot for a yet-to-be-officially-announced advertising campaign, in which both appear playing fictional versions of themselves in a cinematic production.
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The collaboration, which is supposedly part of an international promotional project for a sportswear brand, shows both tennis players away from the courts and in an intimate and artistic setting, with scenes filmed in locations such as Central Park, the Manhattan subway, and the interior of the aforementioned hotel where the controversial photos were taken. An anonymous source close to the production team stated that “the chemistry between them was palpable and filming went naturally, almost as if they had known each other for years.”
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The public’s reaction has been swift. While some fans celebrate the potential relationship between two of tennis’s most prominent young faces, others have criticized Alcaraz’s decision to prioritize a publicity commitment over his participation in a high-level tournament. On social media, the phrase “I couldn’t refuse her”—apparently said by Carlos himself during a post-shooting interview—has quickly gone viral, interpreted by many as a clear reference to Emma.
Those close to both players have refrained from issuing official statements. Raducanu’s team has only stated that “Emma is enjoying her days off before resuming her training for the US Open,” while Alcaraz’s team simply refers to “a scheduled break to prevent physical overload.” Neither player has posted anything on their personal profiles to confirm or deny what happened, but attentive fans have noticed that they have started following each other on platforms they hadn’t before, and have exchanged several likes on recent posts.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, the tournament continues without one of its main headliners. Although the organization has tried to downplay their absence, the media impact has been undeniable. Many wonder if this decision will mark a change in the public image of Carlos Alcaraz, until now known for his professional approach and reserved nature. What does seem clear is that, intentionally or not, Carlos and Emma have completely captured the attention of the sports world and beyond.
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Are we witnessing the birth of a new golden tennis couple , or is this simply a coincidence exploited by marketing? For now, the only certainty is that Carlos Alcaraz has made it clear he couldn’t refuse… her.
