Roger Federer Picks Team Europe as Favorite to Win Laver Cup Because of Carlos Alcaraz

Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz played golf at San Francisco's Olympic Club ahead of the Laver Cup.

Roger Federer Picks Team Europe as Favorite to Win Laver Cup Because of Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz, Roger Federer (Image via X/alcaraz archive)

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The Laver Cup is scheduled to start on September 19. This time, the team event will be held at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Carlos Alcaraz, who made his debut last year and helped Team Europe deny Team World a three-peat by defeating Taylor Fritz in the last match, has once again signed up for the tournament co-founded by Roger Federer. The Swiss maestro is in San Francisco, where he attended the Laver Cup Project Court Unveiling event on Tuesday.

Federer also played a round of golf with Alcaraz at the Olympic Club. When asked to pick his favorite between Team World and Team Europe, the 44-year-old said the latter has an edge because of Alcaraz.

Who do I see as favorites? It’s always the classic question before the Laver Cup. And I always think I know the answer, but then I don’t. I have the feeling as we saw that the West Coast can be a tricky place to play for the Europeans, as they sometimes…when they travel from Europe, it’s far away, and with jet lag, it can take its toll.

Roger Federer told TNT Sports

Team Europe will be captained by Yannick Noah, while for Team World, it’s Andre Agassi. Both will be captaining their respective teams for the first time. Apart from Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Flavio Cobolli, and Jakub Mensik will be playing for Team Europe, while those in Team World consist of Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka, Joao Fonseca, Francisco Cerundolo, Alex De Minaur, and Alex Michelsen.

Now, I do think that Europe probably overall has a stronger team. And I think the doubles is not as crucial this time around because I think both teams are about equally strong in the doubles. So, it’s gonna come down to the singles. And this is where I think with Carlos Alcaraz on the team, and him arrived already in San Francisco and ready to go. I give Europe the edge, here in San Francisco, to take it home again.

Roger Federer added

Last year at the Laver Cup, held in Berlin, the six-time Grand Slam champion played four matches and clinched three wins, including two wins in singles (over Ben Shelton and Fritz). In doubles, he and Ruud defeated Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, but before that, he and Zverev lost to the pair of Fritz and Shelton.

Holger Rune wants to play doubles with Carlos Alcaraz at the Laver Cup

Holger Rune lost a team event this week as he lost to Spain’s Pedro Martinez, and Denmark eventually failed to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup finals. But Rune now wants to win the Laver Cup, where he will make his debut for the first time, and ahead of which, he has expressed his wish to play doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune (2)
Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz)

Has to be Carlos. That could be pretty iconic to relive that moment again. Those [were] good memories, and obviously, we played each other many times, where we’re on the opposite side of the net, so now we can finally try to be on the same side, which is going to be pretty cool.

Holger Rune told the Laver Cup

Before the Davis Cup, the Dane lost to Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round of the US Open. Rune has so far taken home only one title this season.

He defeated Alcazar in the Barcelona Open final. Before Barcelona, Rune also played the final of the Indian Wells Masters but failed to go past Jack Draper. Against Alcaraz, the World No.11 holds a 2-2 head-to-head record.

Also read: John Isner Mocks Roger Federer’s Early Blonde Haircut Compared to Carlos Alcaraz’s Trending New Hairline