Carlos Alcaraz was the star of the show as Team Europe defeated Team World to win the 2024 Laver Cup.
Alcaraz has criticised the tennis schedule, but he showed little signs of fatigue during a stunning Laver Cup debut.
The Spaniard won a phenomenal eight points for Bjorn Borg’s side, who beat John McEnroe’s team 13-11 in Berlin.
McEnroe says Alcaraz is improving other players, although the latter got off to a disappointing start after losing in doubles alongside Alexander Zverev.
The pair were beaten by Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton, but the Spaniard quickly recovered to beat Shelton in singles.
Carlos Alcaraz wants new nickname after Laver Cup success
Alcaraz then overcame Shelton and Frances Tiafoe alongside Casper Ruud, before securing the trophy for Team Europe with a win over Fritz.
As per The Tennis Letter, the Spanish star was compared to legendary figure Roger Federer, with Alcaraz told on the court: “Team World has a new name for you. They called you ‘Fed 05.’
“That means you’ve been playing like Roger in 2005. This is widely considered to be the best season a man has ever played.”
Smiling and looking at Federer, Alcaraz replied: “I’m too far away from that level. Hopefully I’ll reach it one day.
“But it’s going to be impossible. They have to change my name because Fed 05 is going to be forever for him.”
Carlos Alcaraz wins eight of Team Europe’s 13 points at the Laver Cup
Alcaraz has often been unstoppable this season, with the 21-year-old storming to Grand Slam success at the French Open and Wimbledon.
The ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells title also went his way, while the world number three also reached the Olympic final.
His form did, however, dramatically decline as the summer went on, with Alcaraz suffering very early exits at the Cincinnati Open and US Open.
Borg perhaps feared that his slump would continue at the Laver Cup, particularly after his doubles defeat on day one.
But Alcaraz recovered in phenomenal fashion in Berlin, with the Spaniard winning eight of Team Europe’s 13 points.
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