Alcaraz rejects Federer comparisons after Laver Cup victory

Berlin — Carlos Alcaraz dismissed comparisons to 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer after winning the Laver Cup for Team Europe on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

Playing in the tournament for the first time, the 21-year-old Spaniard defeated American Taylor Fritz by winning the tournament in Berlin with 6-2, 7-5 sets.

Having lost the last two events, Team Europe needed a comeback win from local player Alexander Zverev over Frances Tiafoe 6-7(5/7), 7-5, 10-5 to take the tournament to the final between Alcaraz and Fritz.

Team Europe players and Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg (left) celebrate with the trophy during the awards ceremony at the end of the 2024 Laver Cup tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany, on September 22, 2024. Carlos Alcaraz of Spain won the final match of the tournament against Team World’s Taylor Fritz of the United States, 6-2, 7-5. Team Europe beat Team World, 13-11. AFP PHOTO

The four-time Grand Slam champion was compared to peak Federer following his victory but Alcaraz said such a comparison was “impossible”.

“I’m far from that level,” he said. “I hope to get there one day, but it’s really impossible.”

Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon this season, had not played in the event before.

“It’s great. We can all be proud. I’m really happy. We all did a pretty good job throughout the days. It was one of the best,” added the Spaniard.

“We almost lost, but Sasha (Zverev) came out with really good tennis and gave me a chance to win the Laver Cup.”

The world number three helped his team to lift the Laver Cup for the fifth time by winning his doubles clash with Casper Ruud 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) on Sunday.

Alcaraz said that watching the match with his colleagues from Team Europe was more difficult than going out on the field, adding, “Our nerves were killing us.”

“It’s really hard to watch the games from outside. I was trying to stay away a bit, watching on TV in the locker room, trying to support from there.

“Nerves were on edge.”