World number one Carlos Alcaraz returns to training ahead of Europe's Laver Cup title defence

It has been a busy peroid for Carlos Alcaraz, who is set to return to action at the Laver Cup, featuring for team Europe. He has recently returned to training, choosing to play in an indoor court as he ramps up preparation for the rest of the season.

The Spaniard has endured a jam-packed 2025, winning seven titles and recently returning to the world number one position ahead of his arch-rival Jannik Sinner. This includes two Grand Slam triumphs over the Italian at Roland Garros and the US Open, along with beating him at the Masters 1000 events in Rome and Cincinnati. He also won in Monte-Carlo, Rotterdam, and Queens.

He has had his share of disappointment, losing his Wimbledon crown to Sinner in a phenomenal match, but now has his sights on a huge end of the year, starting with the Laver Cup as Europe look to claim their sixth triumph in the event, which first began in 2017.

Alcaraz made his debut in the competition last year, being a key part of the team that overcame the Rest of the World 13-11 in a fabulous comeback. The six-time Grand Slam winner won three of his four matches, instrumental in regaining Europe's title, which they last won in 2021. He defeated 2024 US Open finalist and world number four Taylor Fritz to seal the title.

He will join up with Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Jakub Mensik, and Flavio Cobolli. They will face up against Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Francisco Cerundolo, Alex Michelsen, Joao Fonseca, and Reily Opelka. The likes of Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Tommy Paul have withdrawn from the original team due to injury.

The event begins on the 19th September, lasting three days in San Francisco. Alcaraz has started his preparation at his Academy, with sports journalist German R.Abril tweeting on X: "Carlos Alcaraz inaugurated the new indoor court at the Carlos Alcaraz Academy last Friday, where he prepared for the Laver Cup and will be able to train before the European indoor tour."

He skipped the Davis Cup tie against Denmark to prepare for this event, with him focusing on recovering from the US Open triumph. The Spaniard will not be slowing down for the rest of the year, with the Asian swing coming up.

It begins with the Japan Open in Tokyo, swiftly followed by the Shanghai Masters, one of the only Masters 1000 titles he has never succeeded in, achieving a best result last year when he reached the quarter-finals.

He is then in line to clash with five of his biggest rivals and the best players in the sport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the Six Kings Slam. A week later, it is back to Europe to play the Paris Masters, before the ATP Finals halfway through November in Turin, Italy. These two European tournaments are also events not currently on the Alcaraz CV, as he targets to make more history in the sport he currently has a firm grip on.