Alcaraz hails Zverev as 'probably the best player in the world' ahead of Laver Cup at O2 Arena

Carlos Alcaraz said Alexander Zverev "is probably the best player in the world right now" as Team Europe prepare for this week’s Laver Cup at London’s O2 Arena, praising the German as "a great weapon" for the side.

Europe enter the event captained by Yannick Noah with Zverev the headline name following his US Open triumph; the squad will also rely on Carlos Alcaraz and Flavio Cobolli, the organiser has confirmed. Alcaraz made the remark while discussing team prospects ahead of the tournament, and singled out Zverev’s form as a key asset for Europe this weekend.

The pair shared a lighter exchange about the US Open final when Alcaraz asked Zverev what was going through his mind on match point; Zverev replied: "Completely nothing in my head. This is what helps. When you’re stupid, it helps." In the same conversation Zverev added: "Yeah, I thought the score was 1-4, so I never got nervous at all. If I'd known it was 2-5, I'd have been totally stressed out."

Zverev has won two Grand Slams this year, taking Roland Garros and the US Open, and also reached the Wimbledon final, yet he has not beaten either Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner during the season. Sinner has prevailed in all five of their 2026 meetings, including the finals in Madrid and Wimbledon, according to the report.

The German is listed as World No. 2 with 9,690 points, 1,810 adrift of Sinner, the article states, while elsewhere the piece notes Alcaraz and Zverev are currently ranked third and first, respectively, in the ATP Singles Rankings. The report says Zverev has 1,080 points to defend for the remainder of the season compared with 3,550 for Sinner, and that the Italian is returning from injury.

For Alcaraz, the Laver Cup represents a return to competition after a US Open quarter-final exit and an extended absence caused by a wrist injury; the article also records that Alcaraz won the Australian Open this year, while Zverev won the French Open and US Open. Those title results form part of the context for Europe’s selection and their expectations at the O2.

The story notes Zverev has a "genuine shot at finishing 2026 as World No. 1 for the first time in his career" given his current points position and lower points to defend, and both players will next appear at this week’s Laver Cup at London’s O2 Arena.