Carlos Alcaraz has expressed high regard for his upcoming teammate Alexander Zverev, calling him the best player in the world as they prepare to compete together for Team Europe in the Laver Cup in London. This marks the first time this season that the world's No. 2 and No. 3 ranked players, Alcaraz and Zverev, will pair up.
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Speaking to reporters before the event, Alcaraz remarked, "[Zverev] is probably the best player in the world right now, so having him by my side is going to be a great weapon that we are going to use." Despite being closely ranked, Alcaraz's endorsement emphasizes his humility and respect for the competition. He added, "Hopefully we are going to get many points and I am going to try to lift him up as much as I can. I missed lifting the trophy last year, so I am going to do whatever it takes to do it this year."
Zverev is entering the tournament after a strong season, boasting a record of 55-13 and two Grand Slam titles, having won both the French Open and the US Open. His impressive tally includes a remarkable 25-2 record in Grand Slam matches, representing a 92.6% winning percentage in this demanding format. Zverev has also performed well at the Masters 1000 level with a 20-7 record and even achieved a 10-match winning streak earlier this season.
Alcaraz's comments position Zverev as a formidable competitor on the ATP Tour, especially with No. 1 Jannik Sinner out due to a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz is working through his own challenges after missing over four months this season due to a wrist injury that prevented him from participating in Wimbledon. He made his return at the US Open, reaching the quarterfinals before being defeated by Ben Shelton. Prior to the Laver Cup, Alcaraz expressed confidence, stating, “I am feeling great and practising well… The US Open was a great test for me, so I can’t wait to play here.”
The Laver Cup, taking place at the O2 Arena from September 25th to 27th, marks Alcaraz's first competition in London this year. He shared his excitement, saying, “It is great to be playing in London… I had my first practice on the O2 for the first time in my life. It is really special and feels great to be here.”
Both players aim to help Team Europe rebound after last year's defeat, as Team World won 15-9 in San Francisco and has claimed three of the last four editions of the event. Alcaraz holds a 6-2 record in singles and doubles at the Laver Cup, while Zverev leads with a total of seven appearances in the competition and a 9-7 overall record.