ATP Tour

Alcaraz praises Zverev: 'He is probably the best player in the world right now'

Carlos Alcaraz is back in action this weekend at the Laver Cup in London and had high praise for World No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the lead-up to the event.

Competing for Team Europe against Team World, Alcaraz will join forces with Zverev, who has won majors at the US Open and Roland Garros in a career-best season.

“[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,” Alcaraz said in London. “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.”

Alcaraz missed more than four months of the season due to a wrist injury he suffered at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona in April, but made his long-awaited return to Tour earlier this month at the US Open, where he lost to Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals.

The 23-year-old Spaniard beat Tommy Paul, Wu Yibing, Jaime Faria and Roman Safiullin in New York and hopes to build on it in London, where the action runs Friday through Sunday.

“I am feeling great and practising well,” Alcaraz added. “The US Open was a great test for me, so I can’t wait to play here.”

It is the first time the No. 3 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Alcaraz has competed in London this season, having missed Wimbledon and the ATP 500 tournament at The Queen’s Club due to his wrist injury. The Spaniard is also set to make his debut at the O2, the scene of Roger Federer’s retirement at the event in 2022.

“It is great to be playing in London. It is the first time [I’ve played] in London this year, so I am excited. 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,” Alcaraz said.

“The fans love it here. They love the O2. Not only in tennis but in everything. I think they are going to love it. I loved it. It is super beautiful and I can’t wait to see the stadium packed. I am pretty sure we are going to deliver great tennis and a great show for the people and I think everybody and everything is going to be great.”

Team World defeated Team Europe 15-9 last year in San Francisco and has won three of the past four editions, with Europe’s lone win in this time coming in 2024. Alcaraz holds a 3-1 record in both singles and doubles at the event and is making his third appearance.