Andy Roddick Explains What Will Happen If Carlos Alcaraz Starts Focusing on Doubles

Carlos Alcaraz will be making his debut at the Japan Open, where he will face Sebastian Baez in the opening round.

Andy Roddick Explains What Will Happen If Carlos Alcaraz Starts Focusing on Doubles

Andy Roddick, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/The New York Times, Carlos Alcaraz Brazil)

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This time at the Laver Cup, Carlos Alcaraz won both his doubles matches for Team Europe. First, he and Jakub Mensik beat the pair of Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen. Then on the final day, the team of Alcaraz and Casper Ruud dismantled Michelsen and Reilly Opelka.

But in the end, these wins did not help Team Europe as Fritz secured his sixth consecutive victory over Alexander Zverev 3–6, 6–7(4–7), helping Team World become the Laver Cup champion for the third time. Former player Andy Roddick was impressed by Alcaraz’s doubles performance, as during his live Served podcast, he said he is convinced that if the Spaniard continues to focus on doubles, he will become one of the best doubles players.

Some singles players you can look at, and you’re going, okay, that skill set, whether it’s defending or getting sideline to sideline, is not something that would translate to the doubles court. There is no doubt in my mind that if Carlos actually, you know, focused on doubles a little bit, that he wouldn’t be one of the best doubles players in the world.

The six-time Grand Slam champion has only once played a Grand Slam doubles match. It was in the mixed doubles category, along with his good friend Emma Raducanu, at the US Open. The pair lost to Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula in the first round.

The Laver Cup was Alcaraz’s first tournament since the US Open, where in singles he won by beating Jannik Sinner. This week, two ATP 500 events will be held. Alcaraz, instead of going to Beijing to defend his title at the China Open, will be making his debut at the Japan Open, scheduled to start on September 24.

Taylor Fritz on why he was worried despite his win over Carlos Alcaraz

Taylor Fritz secured his career’s first win over Carlos Alcaraz when they met in the Laver Cup. He, however, was worried a lot as he thought the slow surface wouldn’t allow him to give his all. Even Laver Cup co-founder Roger Federer addressed the slow surface problem, also blaming himself since he was also a part of the decision-making process.

Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz (Image via X/Jose Morgado)

So, because of the nature of the court and the conditions here, it’s so much slower. To be honest, I would have gone in saying it’s probably one of the worst conditions for me to play Carlos. Because it’s so much easier for him to hurt me than it is for me to hurt him. The court’s very slow, I felt like I was going to have to really just crush the ball if I was going to hurt him, and really pick and choose the right ones.

Taylor Fritz told Tennis Channel

When Alcaraz defeated Francisco Cerundolo in the penultimate match, Team Europe was still trailing 9–12. Fritz’s win over Alexander Zverev increased the points to 9–15. The American ace now holds a 9-5 head-to-head lead over the three-time Grand Slam finalist, also beating him this year in the Stuttgart Open final.

The responsibility lay on both Fritz and Alcaraz’s shoulders when they walked on to clash in the final match of the Laver Cup last year. In the end, Alcaraz prevailed and helped his team deny a three-peat to their opponents.

Fritz will next be projected to face Alcaraz in the Japan Open final as he will be the second seed. Last year in Tokyo, the 27-year-old suffered an opening-round exit at the hands of eventual winner Arthur Fils. Fritz has played two singles finals and won both (Stuttgart Open and the Eastbourne International).

Also read: Roger Federer Gives Important Information on Rafael Nadal Ahead of a Potential Fedal Tour