When the going gets tough, the tough gets going! After a two-year drought at Laver Cup, Team Europe made a spectacular 13-11 comeback. This was led by the electrifying performance of Carlos Alcaraz, in a decisive match against Taylor Fritz, where he secured victory with a score of 6-2, 7-5. “We are very, very happy about reaching our goal,” Alcaraz said in an on-court interview. As they check out, “the Europeans in the locker room, now they’re popping bottles.”

On September 22nd, the ‘Channel Tennis Live Podcast’ crew – Steve Weissman, Prakash Amritraj, Paul Annacone, and Andy Roddick – got together to break down and toast Team Europe. Especially the heroics of the young Carlos Alcaraz, who becomes the man of the evening by securing the most points for his team.

At just 21 years old, the Spanish tennis player has become the youngest man to claim Grand Slam titles across clay, grass, and hard courts. Now, after adding his latest claim of the Laver Cup title to his resume, the locker room buzzed with a vibrant celebration filled with laughter. The champagne sprayed through the air as teammates Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev reveled in the moment, playfully drenching one another in bubbly joy.

Not to mention that Team Europe’s captain, Björn Borg, concluded his tenure with an impressive 5-2 record against his friend and rival, Team World captain John McEnroe. Making this celebration long-overdue. Commentator Prakash Amritraj posed a light-hearted question that sparked joy among fans and players alike, “Can Carlos drink yet? Is he old enough to drink yet?”

The commentators continued their jest, noting, “In Europe, I think he can. If he’s from San Francisco, then not yet!” This banter resonated well, especially considering Alcaraz’s age. “Yeah, you don’t want to waste it. Gotta make sure you guys get a couple of swigs in there,” one commentator quipped, emphasizing the lighthearted atmosphere surrounding the victory. Another chimed in, “That’s the good stuff and he put it all in the cup,” playfully referencing the champagne that flowed freely as Team Europe reveled in their triumph.

Amidst the laughter, a thoughtful observation was made: “Why are we acting like, with the bonus that they just won, they can’t just go buy more?” Taking note that with the $2,250,000, prize money at stake—each player from the victorious team earned a whopping $250,000 for their efforts- they wouldn’t have to worry about wasting any champagne. The losing side will receive $125,000.

To add to this, Alcaraz’s teammate, Casper Ruud, stated that he’s always surprised by maturity and skill set on the court. After teaming up with him during the doubles match, Rudd stated, “I’m only a few years older than him, but to witness his rise to the tour… He beat me already when he was 17, and he’s just continued to improve and improve.” 

In the end, while Team Europe continues to ride their high of taking back their winning title. One can’t help but wonder how Carlos Alcaraz pulled off such an intense match. Did he even feel any nerves, or is he just that confident in his abilities? It seems like a mix of both!

Carlos Alcaraz maintains a winning mentality on the big stage

After his decisive win over Taylor Fritz, Alcaraz admitted that while he tried to keep calm on the court. He was definitely feeling the pressure, as this was his debut at the Laver Cup and the stakes were high. Despite his youth, Alcaraz has shown remarkable mental toughness and composure under pressure. “It’s great, obviously we came here with a goal to win the Laver Cup,” he shared in his on-court interview. “We almost lost, but Sascha [Zverev] played incredibly well and gave me the chance to secure the victory.”

Alcaraz candidly admitted that he wasn’t as calm inside as he appeared on the court. “That means I’m a pretty good actor,” he joked after teammate Grigor Dimitrov noted his composed demeanor. “I was nervous, I’m not going to lie. After Sascha’s match, he did a really good job. It was time for me to do my job. I had to win.”

Despite feeling the pressure, Alcaraz managed to channel his nerves into an impressive performance. “I tried not to show Taylor that I was nervous, but I think I played one of my best matches so far,” he reflected. Could it be that Carlos Alcaraz has developed a winning habit on the biggest stages early in his standout career?

With a perfect 4-0 record in major finals and a growing list of impressive achievements, including two Grand Slam titles, Alcaraz is quickly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in tennis!