“He probably is the best player in the world right now" - Carlos Alcaraz ranks Laver Cup partner above him and Jannik Sinner currently

Wednesday, 23 September 2026 at 12:00

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are usually rivals on the court. going toe-to-toe for the biggest titles the sport has to offer. However, the Laver Cup offers the unique opportunity for them to play on the same team and work together for Team Europe. This has seen Alcaraz subsequently praise Zverev, labelling him as the 'best player in the world.'

Both players have become firm fixtures at the Laver Cup in the past. No one has featured more than Zverev, who was part of the inaugural event back in 2017 and has only missed a couple since. Alcaraz first competed back in 2024, with this set to be his third Laver Cup appearance.

The duo are fond of team events. Just beforehand, Zverev travelled back to Germany to compete for his country in the Davis Cup qualifier against Croatia, winning both single rubbers to send his country to Bologna. He has then made the trip to London to join Alcaraz and his teammates with the intention of reclaiming Team Europe's crown.

After winning the first four editions, Team Europe has not been the dominant force as of late. Despite possessing the stronger team, they have fallen short in three of the last four events, with Team World fighting back.

Alcaraz and Zverev were both stunned last year as Team World produced a brilliant second say to come back and take the lead, holding form to in the title in San Francisco. Team Europe will be desperate to get the bragging rights back in this hotly contested exhibition.

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev embracing at the net

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev will be crucial if Team Europe are going to win the Laver Cup

Alcaraz ranks Zverev above the rest

The tournament will take place at the O2 between September 25-27. Alcaraz is very excited ahead of the event, relishing the chance to represent Europe once more.

“I can't wait to see the stadium packed and see how it's going to be the reaction from the people, but I'm pretty sure we're going to deliver great tennis, great show for the people,” Alcaraz said.

Even he could not help Team Europe stride to glory last year, losing one of his singles contests against Taylor Fritz. The Spaniard is not short of motivation and determination. “I missed lifting the trophy last year, so I'm going to do whatever to do this year, so I'm feeling great, practicing well."

Surprisingly, Alcaraz is not the highest ranked player in the tournament. That is thanks to the wrist injury that he suffered at the Barcelona Open as he missed over four months of action. He returned to the US Open but would fall short at the quarter-final stage against Ben Shelton.

On the other side of the draw, Zverev was romping through the rounds and doubled his Grand Slam tally against Shelton in a brilliant US Open campaign that has put him World No.2, comfortably above Alcaraz, who was not doubting the ability and class of Zverev.

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“He probably is the best player in the world right now, so having him on our team, it's going to be a great weapon that we're going to use in the weekend,” Alcaraz said.

Lavish praise from the seven-time Grand Slam champion who is relying on his teammate to go out and win as many matches as possible to boost the chances of Team Europe prevailing. “Hopefully, we're going to get great points, and I'm going to try to cheer him up as much as I can.”

Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist

Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.

Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.

He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.

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