Tennis legend Chris Evert rejected comparisons between her relationship with Jimmy Connors, and rumours surrounding Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz.
Raducanu and Alcaraz teamed up for the revamped US Open mixed doubles event, but were knocked out after losing their opening match against Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula on Tuesday.
Despite the result, their partnership in New York did nothing to dispel the continued dating rumours they have had to contend with.
While both have always insisted they are just good friends, this hasn’t stopped tennis fans from speculating that the pair are in a relationship.
These theories were then sent into overdrive when Alcaraz and Raducanu announced they would compete together in Flushing Meadows back in June.
And one former star who has an idea of the constant scrutiny surrounding their private lives, is all-time great Evert.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion was engaged to fellow major winner Jimmy Connors in the 1970s.
While the decorated couple ultimately broke up in 1975, it is still discussed in the tennis world, with fans also ‘shipping’ them years before they went public with their relationship.
What did Chris Evert say about Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz?
In an interview with ESPN ahead of Alcaraz and Raducanu’s US Open campaign, the 70-year-old was asked if there any similarity between the duo, and herself and Connors.
To this, Evert bluntly replied: “No, because they’re not having a relationship.”
The former WTA world no.1 also stressed she was glad her heyday came in the last century, before the internet gave fan rumours spread an even wider reach.
She added: “I’m so glad I came up in the ’70s, not in this day and age. “Because, I mean, jeez, you’re controversial and talked about no matter what you do.”
How has Emma Raducanu responded to the rumours?
Raducanu and Alcaraz have been subject to speculation surrounding the nature of their relationship for well over a year now.
This first began when the Brit was spotted at Alcaraz’s Wimbledon final last year, which prompted unfounded claims they were an item.
And Raducanu addressed the constant rumours surrounding her personal life in an interview with the Guardian last week.
She said of it: “I guess it comes with the territory, people being so curious.
“I think they’re more curious about this news than any tennis results and tennis news. But I just keep to myself, my private life to one side.
“It’s always funny when people try to find something out, but I try not to read into it so much.”
Fans will now have to wait until Sunday to catch Raducanu and Alcaraz back in action at the US Open.
The pair suffered a 4-2 4-2 defeat to Raducanu’s compatriot Draper and US star Pegula in the revamped mixed doubles tournament.
While no.1 seeds Draper and Pegula will now face Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in the semi-finals, their beaten opponents will now turn their attention to the singles draw.