Make a head
Alcaraz on the ‘privilege’ of spending time with legends Borg, McEnroe, Laver in Berlin
Spaniard in Borg’s Staff Europe choice for Laver Cup
September 19, 2024
Clive Brunskill/Getty Photographs for Laver Cup
Rod Laver, John McEnroe and Carlos Alcaraz spend time collectively this week on the Uber Area in Berlin.
By Andy West
Staff Europe are pulling no punches of their newest bid to win the Laver Cup.
5 of the highest 10 gamers within the PIF ATP Rankings will put on the blue colors below the management of Bjorn Borg on this 12 monthsβs crew occasion. Swedish legend Borg, who will captain Staff Europe for the seventh and closing time, was in assured temper on Thursday in Berlin as his crew bids to regain the Laver Cup trophy for the primary time since 2021.
“The final two years I used to be very disenchanted, however this 12 months, take a look at this crew,” Borg mentioned on the press convention earlier than the event in Europe. “I do not suppose we’ll lose this 12 months. This will likely be one of many good years.
“I am pleased to see these guys. Some guys have performed within the Laver Cup a number of occasions. We all the time have an excellent ambiance and to be right here with all these guys goes to be nice. It may be good tennis, as all the time, good matches. Staff World, it is a sturdy crew, they play rather well, they performed rather well within the US Open. However I believe we’ve an excellent probability.”
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β ATP Tour (@atptour) September 18, 2024
For the primary time, Borg will be capable of name upon the talents of Carlos Alcaraz on the Laver Cup. The Spaniard will make his occasion debut on Friday evening in Berlin, the place he’ll accomplice favorite Alexander Zverev within the opening doubles conflict of the weekend. Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas are additionally on the Staff Europe record.
Having now taken his Grand Slam title tally to 4 with triumphs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this season, Alcaraz is quick establishing himself as a contemporary nice of the sport. The 21-year-old is nonetheless ready to take in all of the information he can within the presence of tennis legends resembling Borg, Staff World captain John McEnroe and Rod Laver himself.
βFor me it is a privilege to be surrounded by Bjorn, by McEnroe, Rod Laver, the legends of our sport who [reached] the top of the game,” Alcaraz mentioned. “So for me, simply studying from them, and naturally right here within the Laver Cup, I believe it is a very nice event that I will take pleasure in as a lot as attainable.
“With my companions we fought towards one another the entire event. Now we’re going to encourage one another on this event. It’s going to be one thing stunning that I’m going to attempt to take pleasure in, however I’m going to attempt to be taught as a lot as attainable from them.”
Alcaraz might flip to his opening doubles accomplice Zverev for tips about tips on how to cope with the strain of the Laver Cup. The German, who has received a Tour-high 56 matches in 2024, will compete in his fifth version of the occasion this 12 months, a file for Staff Europe.
“It is a very particular event,” Zverev mentioned. “It’s extremely totally different from the common tournaments we play, however I believe we’ve to take pleasure in one another. I believe we’ve to take pleasure in having one of the best in our crew. Usually we see one another within the later levels of tournaments and we wish to beat one another, we wish to do every part we will to win, and now we’re right here as a crew and we’ve one purpose, and that’s to win the Laver Cup.
“It would not matter who’s on the sector. I believe we, as a crew, all have full confidence in that particular person. I am simply pleased to be part of it.”