Carlos Alcaraz gets fighting talk from Andre Agassi and co as Laver Cup heats up

Carlos Alcaraz is back at the Laver Cup for the second year running as he attempts to help Team Europe defend their crown. The Spanish superstar won the Ryder Cup-style tournament for Europe in 2024, beating Taylor Fritz in the final singles match in Berlin.

Alcaraz recently lifted his sixth Major title at the US Open, but he enjoyed the team atmosphere so much last year that he's already back in action this weekend as the Laver Cup heads to San Francisco. But Team World, led by tennis icon Andre Agassi, are ready to ruin Alcaraz's plans.

The Laver Cup has had a slight shake-up this year, with new captains replacing John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. Agassi will now head up Team World with the help of his deputy, Pat Rafter, while Yannick Noah and Tim Henman are in charge over on Team Europe.

The leaders have been busy getting to know their players and the format, and Agassi and Rafter have had something extra to think about: Carlos Alcaraz. The world No. 1 has an unbeaten record in singles at the Laver Cup and will have to face someone from Team World on Saturday.

When asked about their game plan to beat the newly crowned US Open champion, Agassi simply replied: "Chip charge."

Australian star Alex de Minaur confirmed that they had already spoken about their plans, and vice captain Rafter said: "Yeah, I am having a bit of trouble trying to convince my players that chip charge does work. Probably not on this court, though.

"Well, [his] first match will be on Saturday, and we don't get to pick who plays Alcaraz. Is that correct?"

Team World will have to submit their player choices for Saturday's matches on Friday night. Team Europe will then decide who will contest each match for them, and they do the reverse on Saturday night for Sunday.

While Rafter isn't sure who will ultimately end up facing Alcaraz, he's hoping the 22-year-old still has't recovered from his post-US Open celebrations.

"I mean, Alcaraz is a weapon. He's someone who is at the top of his game right now, and him and [Jannik] Sinner are dominating a lot of the tournaments," the Australian former world No. 1 explained.

"This is a format, though, that creates - there's two sets. Every one of these guys are capable to win the set against anyone at any given time, put themselves in a situation to play in the tiebreaker to win the match. Anything is possible. That's what I love about the concept of this event also.

"You need to throw something different at him as well. I mean, the guy has serious power. He's a great athlete, but everyone is vulnerable at certain times. It's about trying to go in there and coming up with a game plan when we know this, which will come out probably tomorrow, on who matches up, and then sitting down and strategising.

"Andre and I will sit down and talk to whoever gets to play him and come up with some ideas. You're right, he's tough. He's brutal, and he's at the top of his game. Let's just hope that he had a good week off after the US Open, and he hasn't recovered!"

Alcaraz did take a well-deserved break after his triumph in New York. "It was great," he smiled.

"I think it was needed to have some days after the US Open before here. So I just tried to be in a good shape, you know, in that week before coming here. For me, it's just great.

"So I have battery enough just to pull it off, good things here in the Laver Cup. Let's see how it's going to be these days."

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