Carlos Alcaraz played his first match at this year’s Laver Cup in doubles alongside Jakub Mensik against Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen.
Playing his first doubles match since the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, Alcaraz took some time to adjust to things in San Francisco.
Pushed hard by the American duo, the first set of their Laver Cup clash was decided in a tiebreaker.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup
Edging into a 7-6 [9-7] lead, Mensik and Alcaraz stepped into another gear in the second, securing a 7-6, 6-4 win.
Despite giving Team Europe a 3-1 lead, the Spaniard wasn’t too pleased with his performance as he admitted he felt ‘lost’ at points during the match.
Carlos Alcaraz felt ‘a little bit lost’ playing his first doubles match in almost a year
During his post-match press conference, Alcaraz assessed his performance against Fritz/Michelsen.
“I feel bad, to be honest, but you know, it is my first doubles, I would say, since Davis Cup last year. I felt a little bit lost sometimes,” he said.
“Sometimes I just had to be closer to the net. Like, for example, at that point I didn’t, but yeah, I mean, today there were great points in the doubles.
“As I said in the interview on court, I think thanks to Jakub [Mensik] that he pushed from the baseline, great serves on the net. It just felt comfortable to do great shots. It was a good match, I guess.”
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images for Laver Cup
Alcaraz was then asked if he felt it was important to secure the win in doubles, after a string of disappointing high-profile results for Spaniards in the discipline.
- 2022 Laver Cup Day one – Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal lost to Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock
- 2024 Olympics QF – Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal lost to Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek
- 2025 US Open 1R – Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu lost to Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula
“Absolutely feels great today after the win, yeah. I remember last year, for example, that I lost the first doubles on the first day, so obviously every time that I get the win, you know, in doubles, it feels great,” he said.
“I don’t usually play doubles, but every time that I play doubles, I love it. I just have fun, play great. I feel great on court. You know, having a team, the players that I’m playing with, and every time that I lose, I feel bad, because I always want to win.
“This win is special. It’s the first win that I have with the white hair (smiling). It’s great that the first match that I played with Jakub went that way.”
Mensik was also happy with his efforts, having won two matches on day one of the Laver Cup.
Jakub Mensik says he and Carlos Alcaraz played ‘really well’ together
The young Czech star played America’s Michelsen in his Laver Cup debut, securing the win in a ten-point tiebreaker, 6-1, 6-7, [10-8].
Returning for the doubles, Mensik improved his Laver Cup record to 2-0, capping off a strong day.
“Obviously, first day, it’s tough. Yeah, for me especially for my debut. I’m happy with my performance in the singles and also in doubles,” he said.
“With Carlos [Alcaraz], I think we were playing really well. We were completing each other on the returns, on the serves.
“We showed a really good performance, which, even if it is for one point, every point counts. Every point is so, so important.
“So I’m really happy that I brought two points to the team today. Yeah, of course, hopefully let’s keep it up for tomorrow.”
Team Europe now leads Team World 3-1 after the first day of Laver Cup action.
Day one of the 2025 Laver Cup
Day two of the Laver Cup will offer up two points per win, giving Team World a chance to move level with their opponents after just one match.
Only time will tell who will emerge victorious as Laver Cup action continues on Saturday, September 20.