Carlos Alcaraz: The way it feels to have Spaniard in your aspect at Laver Cup | ATP Tour

Laver Cup

The way it feels to have Alcaraz in your aspect: Staff Europe stars weigh in!

Spaniard gained his Laver Cup singles debut Saturday in Berlin

September 21, 2024

Most weeks of the 12 months, Carlos Alcaraz’s ATP Tour rivals are targeted on how they may defeat him on a few of the greatest levels in tennis. This week on the Laver Cup, a few of those self same rivals are discovering what it’s prefer to have the Spaniard’s chic expertise on their very own aspect for as soon as.

On his singles debut on the groups occasion on Saturday in Berlin, Alcaraz downed Ben Shelton in straight units to earn two essential factors for Staff Europe. As his teammates supported from courtside, the No. 3 within the PIF ATP Rankings gave them a reminder of why he’s such a troublesome opponent.

That successful smile 🙌

With the 6-4 6-4 victory over Shelton, @carlosalcaraz helps Staff Europe stage issues with Staff World.@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/Ty8oCsfsWK

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 21, 2024

A type of watching from the Staff Europe bench was Casper Ruud, who’s but to notch a win in 4 Lexus ATP Head2Head clashes in opposition to Alcaraz, together with within the 2022 US Open closing.

“I’m completely happy to have him on my group, that’s for certain,” Ruud advised ATPTour.com previous to Alcaraz’s match in opposition to Shelton. “He’s an unbelievable participant, so I’d moderately have him on my group than in opposition to me. It’s cool. He’s going to return out explosively, as at all times, to hopefully get some necessary wins for Staff Europe. Everyone knows how nice he’s and it’s his debut so I’m certain he wish to do properly.”

Alcaraz is lining up alongside fellow former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov, and former Grand Slam finalists Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas for Staff Europe this 12 months. A stellar solid, but the presence of the Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion has made a transparent affect to his group’s spirits.

Competing in his fourth Laver Cup in Berlin, Tsitsipas is a relative veteran on the annual groups occasion in comparison with debutant Alcaraz. The Greek solely had good issues to say in regards to the newest addition to Staff Europe.

“I believe he’s having lots of enjoyable. I believe he enjoys the format,” mentioned Tsitsipas of four-time main champion Alcaraz. “These are the uncommon events the place you may have a teammate like that. Having the chance to be on the identical aspect and attempt for a similar end result and for a similar accomplishment, that’s one thing I’d have by no means considered. That’s what makes the Laver Cup stand out, and I’m undoubtedly loving it up to now.”

Bjorn Borg is captaining Staff Europe for the seventh and closing time in Berlin. The legendary Swede might hardly have requested for a much bigger weapon in his armoury as he plots his group’s bid for a primary Laver Cup title since 2021.

“I’m so excited to have all these guys in my group, and to have Carlos for the primary time is thrilling,” mentioned Borg. “Persons are excited, and hopefully he’s going to win a number of matches.”

So how did Alcaraz himself regulate to the distinctive dynamic of his ATP Tour rivals cheering him on Saturday in opposition to Shelton?

“It was enjoyable. Truthfully it was an ideal feeling having them supporting me behind, being like coaches,” the Spaniard advised ATPTour.com after his 6-4, 6-4 triumph. “Having Bjorn on the bench as properly, it’s a nice assist for me. Usually I watch my group after each level. Right here I am my companions and Bjorn [instead of] my group. So it’s a totally different feeling.

“For me it was distinctive expertise that I loved lots. Having, for instance, Grigor [Dimitrov] on a regular basis teaching me, telling me the ways that I’ve to do in the course of the match, it was loopy. Having Stefanos and all of the gamers behind me in all of the break occasions, it was nice for me. I will take this expertise for a very long time, and I truthfully be taught lots from them as properly.”