A body language expert has claimed that Emma Raducanu's "coy smile" and "hair-preen gestures" suggest that a romance is blossoming between the Brit and Carlos Alcaraz. The tennis stars announced that they will play doubles together at the US Open later this year, fueling speculation about their off-court relationship.

After the announcement, Raducanu was spotted courtside as she watched Alcaraz's match in person at Queen's, before he went on to win the championship in a stunning serving display in Sunday's final against Jiri Lehecka. Raducanu and Alcaraz have both been pressed on their relationship status since, playing up their bond together, but far from suggesting that they are dating.

However, body language expert Judi James believes that Raducanu's coy demeanour hints otherwise. She told the Daily Mail: "The fans love a whiff of a romance and it has to be said that her body language might be a bit of a thirst-trap for audiences starved of a love-all relationship since Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert hooked up back in the Seventies."

James claimed that Raducanu appeared to "stall for time" by repeating the interviewer's question about Alcaraz, but "the way the coy smile spread across her face as she rattled off their history together" and how she touched her hair, was similar to a "fan-girl" reaction.

James insisted that Raducanu's reaction was not similar to Taylor Swift's, however, when the pop star is pictured cheering on her beau Travis Kelce.

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"It wasn't quite the kind of intense fangirl displays we get from Taylor Swift as she watches Travis out there on the field but there was some pouting and posing plus some giggling and whispering to her friends," the expert explained.

But James also noticed the "kind of overkill laugh you do when you're young and trying to attract a boy's attention." Speaking at Queen's, Raducanu praised Alcaraz for being "a really positive light to be around" and spoke highly of their friendship, having developed a bond over the past four years.

"He's so nice, very happy, amazing values and just a really positive light to be around," she said. "I've known him for years. Wimbledon 2021 was the first time I started getting to know him. He was always playing the day before me, I would see him win and then I would have motivation to win and get myself into that position too.

"It was really cool to go through that tournament together and then I kept going through the US Open, we were staying in touch for the whole time and, yeah, it's nice."

The BBC put it to Raducanu that fans on social media believe that she and Alcaraz were "destined for each other".

Laughing at the suggestion, the new British No. 1 replied: "I'm glad the internet is having fun and we're providing entertainment for everyone."

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