Emma Raducanu will team up with French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed-doubles at the US Open, with a prize of $1 million for the winners. The new doubles team – which can expect to be given a portmanteau nickname of either “Alcaranu” or “Raducaraz” – is one of several eye-catching partnerships that will make their debut in New York in August.

Men’s world No1 and defending singles champion Jannik Sinner will play alongside women’s No9 Emma Navarro, while women’s No1 Aryna Sabalenka is paired with Grigor Dimitrov. Novak Djokovic will partner compatriot Olga Danilovic and Iga Swiatek is poised to team up with Casper Ruud.

The new format is deliberately designed to attract the best singles players instead of specialist doubles players.