Andy Roddick Explains Why Carlos Alcaraz was ‘Unprepared’ for Laver Cup After Spaniard’s Defeat to Taylor Fritz

World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz ended this year's Laver Cup with a 3-1 win-loss record.

Andy Roddick Explains Why Carlos Alcaraz was ‘Unprepared’ for Laver Cup After Spaniard’s Defeat to Taylor Fritz

Carlos Alcaraz, Andy Roddick (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, Served with Andy Roddick)

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Andy Roddick was in awe of Carlos Alcaraz‘s performance since April, given that he has played the finals of every tournament since the Monte Carlo Masters, winning seven titles from nine finals. The defeats he suffered were at the hands of Holger Rune at the Barcelona Open and Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon.

Except for the Australian Open – where Novak Djokovic knocked him out in the quarterfinals- Alcaraz played the finals of the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. In Paris, he came from two sets down and saved three match points to deny Sinner his maiden French Open title.

He played far better than Sinner in the US Open final. Except against Sinner, Alcaraz clinched all his wins in straight sets, ending the tournament by winning 98 of the 101 service games.

After the US Open, Alcaraz chose not to feature at the Davis Cup tie against Denmark, held in Marbella. Roddick pointed out that Alcaraz, following the New York Slam, did not practice much during the two weeks he had before entering the Chase Center in San Francisco for the Laver Cup.

During the tournament, Alcaraz, for the first time in his career, lost to Team World’s Taylor Fritz, after three back-to-back wins.

He actually showed up and played, even when he’s probably a little bit unprepared. There’s just no world where he should have been taxing himself physically or mentally post-US Open. Like, there’s just not a world where that actually happens. Also like, what are we doing? This guy has created a shadow where he loses to the number four player in the world, who has been in a Major final and was in the semis of Wimbledon this year, and we’re all going: ‘What happened? How could that possibly be?’

Andy Roddick said on the Served Live podcast

Alcaraz only lost that match in singles and won both his doubles matches, which he played alongside Jakub Mensik and Casper Ruud. On the final day, he beat Francisco Cerundolo, but the win did not help Team Europe.

Tim Henman impressed by Carlos Alcaraz’s energy

Carlos Alcaraz lost to Taylor Fritz, but that did not sour his mood, as on the following day, he was as energetic as ever. Team Europe’s vice-captain Tim Henman was impressed by the time spent with the young Grand Slam champion.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

With Carlos, I’m slightly stating the obvious here, but his energy is so good. This morning, when we came on the practice court, he lost yesterday, but he’s still so fun to be around. At 9 am, there was no one there, and he let out this sort of yell of, you know, ‘I’m so pumped’. He said: ‘Today’s gonna be a great day’. He has such good energy.

Tim Henman said on Andy Roddick’s Served Live podcast

So far at the Laver Cup, the six-time Grand Slam champion has played eight matches and holds a 6-2 win-loss record (losing one doubles and one singles match). His victory over Fritz last year had helped Team Europe deny their opponents a three-peat.

Alcaraz is gearing up to lock horns with Sebastian Baez to make his debut at the Japan Open. Winning the tournament will help him gain 500 points, and this will increase the rankings gap between him and World No.2 Jannik Sinner, whom he removed from the top after his US Open win.

Sinner will play the China Open next. Alcaraz will lose his rankings if Sinner wins the China Open and defends his title at the Shanghai Masters (beat Novak Djokovic last year).

Also read: Alexander Zverev laments about a back problem after Team Defeats Team Europe at the Laver Cup