Alexander Zverev recently shared with rival Carlos Alcaraz that he was unaware he was serving for the championship during the US Open final this past month. Zverev won his first title at Flushing Meadows by defeating Ben Shelton in four sets, but he returned to the baseline as if preparing for another game after Shelton hit long on championship point.
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"I thought it was 4-1," Zverev said when asked about the moment by Alcaraz, as the Team Europe players prepared for the Laver Cup. He added, "If it were 5-2, I'd have been so nervous, for sure. There was completely nothing in my head. This is what helps, you know? When you're stupid, it helps," he remarked with a laugh.
Alcaraz, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals, expressed confusion over Zverev's mindset during the match. "I was watching at home and I was like, 'what the heck?'", he said.
Team Europe, led by captain Yannick Noah, aims to reclaim the Laver Cup title after their loss to Team World last year in San Francisco. The three-day tournament is set to start on Friday in London and will also feature players like Casper Ruud, Flavio Cobolli, Jakub Mensik, and Rafael Jodar alongside Zverev. Team World includes stars such as Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Alex de Minaur, Alexander Bublik, and Francisco Cerundolo.