Alcaraz names Zverev as world's best ahead of Laver Cup
Carlos Alcaraz, returning from a wrist injury, has called Alexander Zverev the best player in the world as they team up for the Laver Cup in London.
Carlos Alcaraz has labelled his Laver Cup teammate Alexander Zverev as the best player in the world. The Spanish star made the comment ahead of his first matches in London in 2026 at the team exhibition event, which begins on Friday at the O2 Arena.
Alcaraz is making up for lost time after missing the English grass-court season, including Wimbledon, due to a wrist injury sustained at the Barcelona Open in April. He returned to competition at last month's US Open, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Ben Shelton. Now, his comeback continues at the Laver Cup, where he will play alongside newly crowned US Open champion Zverev for Team Europe.
Alcaraz's praise for Zverev
When asked about his German teammate, Alcaraz was effusive. "I agree that he is probably the best player in the world right now," Alcaraz told Tennis365. He described Zverev as a great weapon for Team Europe and stated his intention to lift the Laver Cup trophy after missing out last year.
The praise follows previous compliments from Zverev about Alcaraz's quality during a prior Laver Cup. Alcaraz framed the US Open as a good test for his fitness and expressed excitement about playing in London for the first time this year.
Focus on London and a rematch
Alcaraz specifically mentioned his defeat to Team World's Taylor Fritz in the 2025 Laver Cup. "He destroyed me last year," Alcaraz said with a smile. He added that he would be ready for a potential rematch in London.
The event marks Alcaraz's first time competing at the O2 Arena. He called the stadium super beautiful and said he was excited to experience the atmosphere with a packed crowd. His participation comes despite some criticism for playing exhibition events, but the Laver Cup's best-of-three-set format with no ranking points is seen as a suitable platform for his ongoing return from injury.
The Laver Cup will conclude with a final session on Sunday. Alcaraz will also collect a significant appearance fee for his participation in the tournament.
