Carlos Alcaraz Laver Cup 2024 performance Japan Open

Carlos Alcaraz played for Team Europe at the Laver Cup in London. He finished the tournament with a 100% record, winning one singles match and one doubles match. Alcaraz earned one point from a doubles win with Jakub Mensik against Alexander Bublik and Taylor Fritz. Team Europe reclaimed the Laver Cup from Team World. The post-victory press conference was held at the O2 arena, an indoor hard-court ATP event that offers no ranking points but counts toward head-to-head records.

Title clinched before Alcaraz’s final singles match

Alexander Zverev secured the Laver Cup for Team Europe before Alcaraz could play his scheduled day-three singles match. He was scheduled to play Alex de Minaur on day three of three, but the title was claimed before that match.

Players critique slow court conditions and ball performance

Both Alcaraz and his doubles partner, Jakub Mensik, criticized the playing conditions at a press conference. Mensik said the conditions were pretty slow and one of the slowest hard court surfaces he had played on that year. He found it tough to get used to the conditions and get rhythm. Mensik said his game relies on serve and heavy groundstrokes, making it difficult to finish points. He also stated the balls were not good and contributed to the slowness.

Carlos Alcaraz said he does not mind slow courts but blamed the balls. He noted his serve is not the biggest. Alcaraz said he has talked with Yannick Noah and the team about how tennis and court speed have changed over the years. He believes courts are getting slower but thinks it is about the balls, not the courts. Alcaraz said ball reaction varies greatly, with new balls becoming super big and changing the game. He stated players must adapt quickly to new balls within two or three games. Alcaraz requested that authorities use the best ball possible for the courts being played on. He added that he is trying to adapt himself and his game to the best of his ability.

Alcaraz turns focus to Japan Open defence

Having completed his Laver Cup commitments, Alcaraz will travel to Tokyo for the Japan Open, where he is the defending champion. The ATP calendar is busy with little time to switch between tournaments and court types. Adapting quickly between tournaments is a skill Alcaraz has mastered. Alcaraz is set to play at the Japan Open in Tokyo next.